DALLAS—The Northwestern State soccer team played very competitively against a Power 4 conference foe for the second straight time Sunday night, but the Demons couldn’t duplicate their Thursday stunner over Texas and fell 2-0 at SMU.

The Mustangs (1-1) scored five minutes in, and on a penalty kick late. The Demons (1-1) had several good chances but didn’t net any.

“I’m really proud of the group,” head coach Ian Brophy said. “I’m really proud of the effort and the intensity we had during the game. I thought we fought really well. We created scoring chances.

“Overall, it felt like a 1-0 game, and I felt like we played right there with them and with our chances to score, we could have easily made it 1-1. Overall, I am really proud of the group and proud of the way we competed against two power four opponents this weekend. That is a real testament to the team and players.”

After an interception on an outlet pass from the back, the Mustangs took advantage of their first and best opportunity of the game off the interception and score from transfer Sarah Bonnecaze.

“That first goal is on me,” Brophy said. “We build out of the back and that is the way I want us to play, so when those types of goals go in, that’s on me.”

It stayed that way until a foul in the box caused a penalty kick in the 76th minute, which was converted by SMU’s Lindsay Nicholson.

Through the first 12 minutes, that goal from Bonnecaze was the only shot attempt of the game before the Mustangs began to pepper NSU goalkeeper Kennedy Rist with three straight shot attempts, but Rist was there to keep the deficit at one.

After making 13 stops Thursday at Texas, Rist made six more against the Mustangs.

“Kennedy was brilliant again and kept us in it,” Brophy said. “She made some great saves to keep us in the game.

“Despite not scoring a goal (after two at Texas), Emily Senatore’s defensive intensity was able to get us in the attack, that was great to see again. There were several really good performances.”

SMU outshot NSU 27-6, but NSU had three either hit the crossbar or the post.

NSU’s best chances came in the 62nd minute, as Hosane Soukou’s bid for another goal hit the left post before the ball ricocheted out and Madison Murphy’s shot off the rebound sailed wide right.

The Mustangs defense held the Demons without a shot for the final 13 minutes of the game to seal the win.

The Demons make another trip to Texas, visiting Tarleton State on Thursday before playing at home for the first time this season next Sunday at 1 against Alcorn.