The Nicholls State Women’s Soccer team falls short to South Alabama Jaguars Sunday, after making school history with first ever win against Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles Friday.
The team traveled to the Bell Track and Field Soccer Complex in Hattiesburg, Miss., Friday Aug. 22. The Colonels went into their first game of the season against Southern Miss, with a past record of 23-1 in the previous five matches. The most recent match ended in a 6-0 shutout, with Head Coach Dylan Harrison’s first game with the Colonels in 2009.
Senior mid-fielder/forward Kristy Tatom talked about her expected outcome of the game.
“I usually look up the stats for the past games, but everyone told me not to for this one. I figured they would be good, but I said I would just play it out and see,” Tatom said.
The Golden Eagles set the pace of the game within the first five minutes, as Rebekah McMullan scored the first goal with an assist from Beann Hedin. The Colonels came back aggressive thirty-two minutes later with a pass from freshman mid-fielder Kaitlyn Caro to Tatom, who chipped a shot right over goalie Brittany Taylor. Two minutes later Caro assisted sophomore forward Kirstie Champagne whose shot from the front of the box snuck inside the right pocket of the goal, scoring her first goal ever as a Colonel and the final goal of the game.
The second half consisted of the Colonels playing keep-away and six saves from Nicholls sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Mosley. Mosley stayed focused and on her toes as she dove, blocking one shot and before fully getting to her feet, dove in the opposite directions seconds later.

She prevented what would have been the tying shot by coming out of the goal to dive on top the ball, just seconds before a shot from the Golden Eagles. Mosley protected the win with just two minutes left in the game. Twenty different players made a mark in the game, making the first win in program history against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles a complete team effort.
Tatom said how it felt to score the first goal of the season and how new players had an impact on the win.
“I didn’t really connect that I scored the first goal of the season. I was just worried about the win, but it was kind of cool. The newer players are all really good and make the upperclassmen step their game up so we wont lose our spot. They help encourage us,” Tatom said
The team continued this past weekend by traveling to Mobile, Ala., Sunday Aug. 24 with the second game of the season against the South Alabama Jaguars. The NSU ladies soccer team fell short 3-0, after challenging weather conditions. With the temperature being over 100 degrees, the Jaguars controlled the game by having a 2-0 lead within the first 14 minutes, with a third and final goal before the second half. Though it did not result in a goal, junior forward Spencer Valdespino took a shot the first 16 seconds into the game that sailed just over the goal. Five minutes in, Golden Eagle Danielle Henley scored a goal twenty yards out with an assist from Nikki Shirtcliffe. Just nine minutes later, Henly gained possession of a corner kick and scored her second consecutive shot of the game. As Mosley reached for the ball and dove to the ground, Rio Hardy received a pass from Alyssa Pejic and made the final goal fourty-four minutes into the first half.
The Colonels picked up their defense in the second half, not allowing South Alabama to score another goal. Throughout the game, four shots were attempted each by Valdespino, Caro, freshman mid-fielder Ainsley Pratt and junior mid-fielder Jess Coates.
Tatom goes on to explain the results of Sunday’s game.
“It was something new for us. We don’t normally play two very competitive teams in one weekend. They are a very aggressive team, and they are always competition, but it should have been a closer game. The heat was not an excuse because we were both hot, but we definitely could have played better. It was a learning experience,” Tatom said.