Emily Senatore scored a pair of goals to tie Heather Penico on the all-time goal scoring list with 21, and more importantly, lifted NSU (7-3-3, 2-1-1) to a thrilling 2-1 victory over in-state rival Southeastern Louisiana (3-5-3, 2-1-1) on Thursday evening at the Demon Soccer Complex.
Senatore scored her second goal to break a 1-1 deadlock in the 84th minute and earn the Demons a pivotal Southland Conference victory while handing the Lady Lions their first conference loss.
The junior from Oxford, Conn., tied Penico, who is being inducted into the N-Club Hall of Fame on Saturday, for 10th in program history for career goals.
“It was a great win, especially to get the goal in the last 10 minutes,” head coach Ian Brophy, who tied Stuart Gore for the fourth-most victories (24) in NSU history, said. “I am really happy, especially when you get the late goal.
“I was really pleased with the performance in general and the way we played throughout and the way we kept plugging away and creating chances. Even when it was 1-1, the way we dominated possession and continued to apply the pressure, and it ended up leading us to getting the game-winning goal.”
Senatore’s second goal came off a pass from Riley Stern, much like her first goal. Stern found Senatore, who spun around the defender and rolled one through the defense and past SLU goalkeeper Kendall Curran for her fifth game-winning goal of the season.
She relishes the late-game heroics, also scoring the winning goal in the closing minutes in last season’s victory at UIW.
“I love having the ball at my feet late,” Senatore said. “When it comes to the end of the game and we’re not winning, we really have to put everything out there, so I feel like I was trying to that and come out with the goal.”
Stern, making her first start of the season, also earned an assist on the first goal as well, passing it to Hosane Soukou, who passed it to Senatore. Senatore blasted one from outside the box to the top left corner for the game’s first goal in the 20th minute.
The Lady Lions found the back of the net for the tie when Alexandra Knight scored in the 54th minute.
It was the only shot on goal for SLU in the game, as the Demons defense thwarted the Lady Lions opportunities throughout.
“The defenders were really good all night,” Brophy said. “In the first half, especially, we really limited their scoring chances. The defense played really well. Emily Mougia had a big night tonight, as did Sophia Minnillo and Jessica Spitzer. I am really proud of the way we played defensively.”
NSU is off this weekend.
VOLLEYBALL: The Demons fell in a visit to the UT-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 3-0 (25-12, 25-17 and 25-12) Thursday night in Southland Conference play.
The Vaqueros (7-7, 2-1 Southland) were in command most of the match. In set two, the Demons (1-16, 0-3 Southland) competed better as they trailed 15-12. However, UTRGV scored 10 of the final 13 points as they went on to take set two and three convincingly.
“That’s the best team we have played all season,” said Demon head coach Ben Kaszeta. “Coach Todd (Todd Lowery-UTRGV head coach) has a great environment as well. Hats off to a great program. They are built to win the Southland.”
TENNIS: After opening the fall season with a strong showing at the Diving Eagle Invitational, the Lady Demon tennis team returns to action this weekend at the Texas State Invitational, starting today.
Six Lady Demons are making the trip: senior Zoi Spyrou, juniors Maria Farina and Honoka Umeda, and newcomers Lolita Hukasian, Martina Acebedo Bonocore, and Athina Grigoriadou.