HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana sophomore midfielder Lauren Stillians scored in the 48th minute and the Lady Lion women’s soccer team remained unbeaten and battled to a 1-1 tie with Southern Mississippi in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon at the Southeastern Soccer Complex.

Despite having its four-match winning streak, Southeastern (4-0-1) finished the first five matches of the season unbeaten for the second time in school history. Southern Miss (1-3-1) tied the match with a goal by Jordan Wagner in the 67th minute, but Southeastern held on for the tie despite playing a player down for the final 15 minutes after freshman Kelsey Salcido received her second yellow card midway through the first overtime.

“We battled hard today and we were very proud of the effort,” Southeastern head coach Blake Hornbuckle commented. “We were pleased with the way we responded to playing a player down in overtime.”

Hornbuckle was also quick to praise the efforts of Stillians and junior goalkeeper Lacey Bockhaus, who finished with five saves. Bockhaus and the Lady Lions allowed their first goal on Wagner’s score after holding opponents scoreless for the first 426 minutes of the season. The school’s career leader in shutouts has a 0.19 goals against average through the first five matches of 2010.

“Lauren scored a fantastic goal,” Hornbuckle said. “She’s been tremendous for us in the central midfield the past several matches and it was great to see her find the net. Lacey continues to be outstanding in goal and did a great job of keeping us organized. We were also pleased with the work rate up top of Maiya Cooper.”

The two teams played to a scoreless stalemate in the first half. Cooper had the match’s first opportunity, but her shot was blocked. Southern Miss had a prime scoring chance late in the half, but Lady Lion senior Brittany Prieto blocked the shot of Stefani Buller and Bockhaus turned away Samantha Polley’s attempt on the rebound.

Southeastern came out on the attack early in the second half and quickly got on the board. Sophomore Karly Dagys and a USM defender battled for a ball near the Golden Eagles’ net. The ball rolled free and the first to reach it was Stillians, who drilled a shot from just out of the box that sailed just under the crossbar and past leaping USM goalkeeper Hannah Vanderboegh.

Southeastern had a chance to double the lead minutes later, as senior Natalie Santana attempted four corner kicks in a span of six minutes, but the Lady Lions could not connect on the other end.

Southern Miss tied the score due to a beautifully played ball from the back line by Natasha Lombardo. Wagner was able to run it down and get an open shot from close in that settled in the upper right corner of the net.

Both teams had opportunities in the final minutes of regulation, but Bockhaus and Vanderboegh held firm in goal. Bockhaus made perhaps the play of the match with just over two minutes left in the second half, as she dove and knocked away a shot attempt by Tricia Tillman to keep the match tied.

A shot by Dagys early in the first overtime period was the only shot attempt during extra time. Neither team mounted a serious threat in the final 20 minutes.

Southeastern will return to action on Friday, facing host Jacksonville State at 7:30 p.m. on the opening day of the adidas Gamecock Classic in Jacksonville, Ala.