The Nicholls State University women’s soccer team ended their regular season with a tough loss to Sam Houston State University after making program history with the first ever win against Southeastern Louisiana University.

Before suffering a 2-0 loss to Sam Houston in Sunday’s season finale, junior Colonel forward Spencer Valdespino realized the risk she and her team were facing for a spot in the 2014 Southland Conference Tournament. She took it upon herself to lead the team to the 4-2 victory against the Southeastern Lions, scoring all four goals. The win became the first in program history against the Lions and almost earned Valdespino a National Player of the Week Honor. Though she just missed being ranked nationally, despite scoring more goals than the winner Georgetown midfielder Daphne Corboz, Spencer was still named Madness Southland Women’s Soccer Player of the Week by College Sports Madness just one day after being named SLC Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week. Valdespino also earned First-Team All-Southland Honors.

“It has kind of been a slow season for me, but Friday I came out and played hard. I realized our season was on the line, and I wasn’t ready for it to end. I came out and did what I had to do, and they just kind of came. I wasn’t looking for them.”Valdespino said.

Friday’s win also set the school record for the most goals in a game against an SLC opponent and tied the record for the most goals in a game since 2010. Raising their SLC record to 5-6, the win secured the Colonels position in the conference as the No. 5 seed. The team will open the Conference Tournament on Thursday as they travel to Beaumont, Texas and play the No.4 seed and rival, the McNeese State University Cowgirls.

“That’s a huge rival game. It was a tough battle earlier in the season, but we were a different team back then. We’re a lot better now, and we know what we have to do. That was the first conference game, and we had new girls that didn’t really know what they were doing. Now that we have twelve games under our belt, it should be a completely different game,” Valdespino said.

After losing to McNeese 2-3 in the last few minutes of their Conference opener, the Colonels mentally and physical prepare for an aggressive game.
“I’ve never seen the team so hyped up, but I know it’s because we don’t like each other,” Valdespino said. “It’s going to be a really tough game, but we’ve improved so much. I think that we will come out with the win,” Valdespino said.