A record-breaking outburst from Northwestern State soccer standout Paige Baumgartner earned her another Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week award, the league announced Tuesday.
Baumgartner, a graduate student from Rowlett, Texas, scored a school-record five goals, including four in the first 15 minutes, as the Demons rolled to a 24-1 victory last Thursday over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The team total was the most goals scored in both NSU and Southland history, just one shy of the NCAA record.
She scored in the eighth minute, then found the back of the net three times in a span of 4:15 to not only secure a hat trick but also tie the school record in goals in a game.
The other three times it has happened were Olivia Draguicevich against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in 2021, Kayce Schultz against Lamar in 2008 and Britiany Cargill in 1998.
Baumgartner surpassed them with a final goal late in the match on a breakaway to secure the record.
In addition to her five goals, she added a pair of assists for a school-record 12 points, tied with teammate Emily Gundin, who had four goals and four assists.
This is her second straight weekly award after collecting the honor last week after a three-goal weekend against Alcorn State and Louisiana Tech.
Following her monster performance, the 2025 first team All-Southland selection moved into the lead in the conference in both points (18) and goals (8).
The eight goals are tied for fifth nationally and 18 points are tied for seventh.
Baumgartner and her teammates are back in action Thursday at Grambling for the final tune-up before conference play begins Sept. 24 at the Demon Soccer Complex against rival Lamar.