Thibodaux, Louisiana – The Central Arkansas women's soccer team opened up its season-ending, three match road trip on Friday evening, heading to Thibodaux, Louisiana to take on the Nicholls State Colonels. The Bears would put up a pair of goals in the second half, improving to 9-8 on the season and 6-3 in Southland Conference play with a 2-0 win.

The Bears (9-8-0, 6-3-0 SLC) controlled the pace of play in the first half, firing off six shots while limiting the Colonels (5-10-1, 2-6-1 SLC) to just a single chance. Autum Schwartz gave Central Arkansas its first look, firing a shot high in the third minute, before Dayna Mounie missed wide in the ninth. Scwartz would add another shot in the 11^th minute, pushing an attempt wide, before Mie Elvestad gave Nicholls its only look of the first half in the 20^th minute. Mounie would get another chance in the 25^th minute, firing a shot on goal, but she was turned away by Colonel keeper Roosa Hurmerinta. Maci Schoonover would take a pair of shots in the final five minutes of the frame, but was unable to connect, with her first attempt blocked by a defender and her second sailing high.

 Central Arkansas continued to dictate the pace of play in the second half, holding the Colonels to three shots while adding seven to its tally. Kristy Helmers was the first Colonel to test UCA keeper Anna Hughes, firing off a shot in the 49^th minute, and Scwartz would again find the first look for the Bears, missing high in the 50^th minute. Camille Bassett would be denied by Hurmerinta in the 55^th minute, before UCA finally broke through in the 59^th. Ashley Smith worked through the Nicholls defense and slid a pass to Alex Moore, who slid the ball just inside the right post to put the Bears up 1-0 with her third goal of the season. Hughes would make another save in the 72^nd minute, deterring a shot from Emily Werenskiold, and Moore would have a shot blocked in the 73^rd, before the Bears got an insurance goal from Schwartz, who curled a corner kick into the top-right corner in the 79^th minute for her third goal of the season. Bassett would miss left in the 82^nd minute, and Hughes would reject Francesca Curteis in the 86^th to end the match.

"Nicholls does a good job of keeping numbers behind the ball and making it difficult to get good scoring opportunities," said UCA head coach Jeremy Bishop. "We stayed patient and kept working and were finally able to break through. Alex's goal was a really nice build up, cross, and finish. Our defensive work was really solid and gave them zero scoring opportunities."

The Bears head to Hammond, Louisiana on Sunday, for a match-up with the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM.