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BEAUMONT, Texas — Top-seeded Northwestern State needed every second of extra time to survive Tuesday’s Southland Women’s Soccer quarterfinal, edging No. 8 seed McNeese 1–0 on Kendall Hemperley’s golden goal with just five seconds remaining in extra time.

Hemperley delivered the winner at the 99:55 mark, finishing a brilliant feed from Madison Murphy to lift the Lady Demons (13-4-3) into their fifth consecutive Southland semifinal.

The dramatic finish extended Northwestern State’s streak of five straight overtime matches at the conference tournament, dating back to 2023. It also marked the program’s sixth straight semifinal appearance. The Lady Demons have fallen in each of the last three semifinals; the last time they advanced, in 2021, they went on to win the championship.

Northwestern State dominated possession at 71 percent and outshot McNeese 23–4, but Cowgirls goalkeeper Celeste Marijnissen kept her team alive with seven saves before Hemperley’s decisive strike found the back of the net.

The Lady Demons will face Houston Christian in Thursday’s semifinal at 4 p.m. at the LU Soccer Complex. HCU defeated Northwestern State 1–0 on Sept. 28, one of only two conference losses for the Lady Demons this season. Tickets are avilable for purchase.