RiverHawks Win, Claim Tourney Berth

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Nov. 2) --- Senior Days are monumental events in the lives of student-athletes. Brittany Nolan and Ashley Badeen's final home match will certainly be one they'll remember a lifetime.

Nolan's 30-yard direct kick in the sixth minute of double-overtime lifted Northeastern State to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Texas Woman's here Sunday afternoon. The win vaulted the RiverHawks (7-7-4 overall/4-3-3 in LSC action) into the Lone Star Conference Tournament for the first time since 2003. NSU will be the No. 6 seed when play begins at West Texas A&M Nov. 6. Texas Woman's season ended at 9-8-2 overall and 4-4-2.

Heading into the match, Northeastern State knew it needed a win and a loss from either Angelo State or Abilene Christian to qualify for postseason play. ASU dropped its match at West Texas and Nolan's heroics paved the way for the RiverHawks.

After a scoreless first half, TWU's Dani DeCoursin found the net with a short shot off a cross from Andrea Choate for a 1-0 lead in the 67th minute. However, the margin didn't last long.

Badeen tied the match just seven minutes later when she converted a rebound, from 10 yards away, off Patricia Nardy's direct kick following a Pioneer foul.

Neither team seriously theatened during the remainder of regulation and the match was extended into overtime.

In the first extra session, Northeastern State narrowly missed putting the game away when Early Villegas beat three Pioneer defenders and blasted a shot from 25 yards away that hit the crossbar. It was the only shot on goal for either team in the first OT.

With less than five minutes to play, Nolan's "golden goal" came after TWU fouled just outside the box. Nolan's effort bent left and sailed over Pioneer keeper Aly Vincent-Evans' hands giving NSU the victory.

Northeastern State had six shots on goal and TWU managed five. Nardy and Vincent-Evans each logged four saves.