EDINBURG, Texas – The Nicholls Colonels picked up an important Southland Conference victory Thursday evening, defeating the UTRGV Vaqueros 2-1 at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex. The win gives Nicholls another conference victory as the Colonels continue to battle for positioning in the Southland standings.

Nicholls improved to 6-4-6 overall and 4-1-3 in Southland Conference play, while UTRGV dropped to 4-10-1 overall and 0-6-1 in conference action.

While UTRGV controlled much of the offensive opportunities throughout the match, Nicholls took advantage of its chances, including a late goal from Alyssa Wheeler that would ultimately be the difference.



Colonels Strike First

Nicholls wasted little time finding the scoreboard, taking a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute when Jezlyn Nelson scored her first goal of the match at the 19:38 mark.

The early goal gave the Colonels an advantage despite UTRGV creating several scoring opportunities throughout the opening half.

The Vaqueros finished the first 45 minutes with 10 shots compared to five for Nicholls, but the Colonels were able to keep UTRGV off the scoreboard.

Nicholls goalkeeper Aislinn Wright played an important role in maintaining that advantage, recording two saves in the opening half. UTRGV also had an opportunity to even the match in the 15th minute, but a shot from Isabella Burtini struck the crossbar.

Despite being outshot, Nicholls entered halftime leading 1-0.

UTRGV Battles Back in Second Half

The Vaqueros continued to apply pressure after halftime, looking for an opportunity to get back into the match.

That opportunity came in the 65th minute.

At the 64:45 mark, Isabella Burtini scored for UTRGV off an assist from Sienna Gillespie, evening the match at 1-1.

The goal gave UTRGV some momentum after spending much of the match trying to overcome the early Nicholls advantage.

With the match tied and both teams looking for a late opportunity, the Colonels needed someone to step up offensively.

That moment came from Alyssa Wheeler.

Wheeler Delivers the Game-Winner

In the 79th minute, Wheeler found the back of the net at the 78:41 mark, giving Nicholls a 2-1 advantage with just over 11 minutes remaining.

The goal came at a critical point in the match, especially with UTRGV continuing to generate opportunities offensively.

Nicholls had struggled to create consistent scoring chances throughout the evening, but the Colonels made the most of their opportunities when it mattered.

Following Wheeler's goal, UTRGV continued pushing forward in search of another equalizer. Burtini put a shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but Wright made the save to preserve the lead.

Nicholls was able to hold off the Vaqueros over the final minutes to secure the road victory.

Wright and Colonels Defense Hold Strong

While Nelson and Wheeler provided the scoring, the play of Wright and the Nicholls defense deserves plenty of credit.

UTRGV finished the match with 18 shots, including six on goal, compared to 10 shots and six on goal for Nicholls.

Wright played all 90 minutes in goal for the Colonels, finishing with five saves while allowing just one goal.

Nicholls also held a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks, including four opportunities in the second half.

The Colonels finished with seven fouls compared to four for UTRGV, and neither team received a caution during the match.

For UTRGV, Burtini led the offensive attack with five shots, including three on goal, while Gillespie added three shots and an assist.

Vaqueros goalkeeper Mariana Amezcua recorded four saves while allowing two goals.

An Important Road Win for Nicholls

For Nicholls, this was the type of match that can make a difference as the Southland Conference season continues.

The Colonels didn't dominate the match offensively, and UTRGV certainly had opportunities to come away with a different result. However, Nicholls found a way to win on the road, something that becomes increasingly important as conference play moves closer to the postseason.

The biggest difference Thursday evening was the Colonels' ability to finish their opportunities.

Nicholls placed six of its 10 shots on goal and converted two of those chances. UTRGV also put six shots on target but managed just one goal despite attempting eight more shots overall.

The victory also gives Nicholls its fourth conference win of the season, keeping the Colonels in a strong position as they continue working toward the Southland Conference Tournament.

For UTRGV, the loss continues a difficult stretch of conference play. However, the Vaqueros showed they could generate offensive opportunities against a Nicholls team that has been difficult to beat this season.

With the regular season winding down, every conference result becomes more important, and Nicholls leaves Edinburg with three valuable points in the Southland standings.

Thursday's victory may not have been the Colonels' most dominant performance of the season, but finding ways to win matches like this one is exactly what teams need as postseason play approaches.