NATCHITOCHES ­ A pair of home matches against McNeese State and Nicholls State this weekend will help determine the fate of the Northwestern State Lady Demon soccer team for a berth in the Southland Conference tournament.
 
The Lady Demons (5-9-1, 0-4-1) will face-off with the Cowgirls (7-8-2, 2-4) Friday night at 7 o¹clock, and the Lady Colonels (5-10, 0-5) on
Sunday at 2 o'clock.
 
"We're battling with McNeese for the same spot in the conference tournament so it will be a very competitive game,” said head coach George
Van Linder.
 
NSU sits eighth in the SLC standings five points out of the sixth place, held by McNeese, to qualify for a spot in the tournament. If the Lady
Demons lose Friday they will fall out of tournament contention.
 
NSU is led by junior forward Yanci Johnson with six goals and one assist. Johnson scored her sixth tally of the season against Arkansas-Pine Bluff,
which surpassed her career total of five goals.
 
Sitting right behind Johnson is junior Ashlee Savona who has accrued four goals and three assists.
 
McNeese finished its regular season home schedule last Sunday against Stephen F. Austin. The Cowgirls fell 2-0 as SFA's Kylie Louw collected a
goal and an assist on the day.
 
McNeese is led by Brennan Moss with five goals and two assists, followed by Sarah LaLanne with four goals and four assists.
 
Nicholls fell to SLC foe Oral Roberts 2-1 in double overtime on Sunday.
 
The Lady Demons dropped a tough loss to Lamar 1-0 Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals struck late at the 79-minute mark to improve their record to 4-1 in conference play.
 
NSU out-shot Lamar 18-13 and had multiple scoring opportunities as they were granted seven corner kicks. Savona led the Lady Demons with four
shots.
 
“Our conference schedule has been tough for us, taking on the three toughest teams in the conference in the beginning of the SLC season,”
stated Van Linder. “Our remaining games are against teams that are similar to us, and we¹re all fighting for a spot in the post season.”
 
Friday's game is also a Pink Out sponsored by the Central Louisiana Ambulatory Surgical Center in support of breast cancer awareness month. Each member of the Lady Demon soccer team will be playing in honor of someone affected by breast cancer. A complete list of honorees can be found below.
 
Sunday's match will be Senior Day as NSU will honor four Lady Demon soccer seniors.
 
The Lady Demons compete in their regular season finale Oct. 26 at Southland Conference foe Southeastern. Kick-off is slated for 3 o¹clock.
 
#00 Jessica Danku – Jean Parker
#0 Bailey Stengler – June Wetzel
#1 Brooke Bourbonais – Dixie Shewell
#2 Becca Furlow - Grace Marshall
#3 Susan Lucas - Jennifer Lucas
#4 Destiny LaRue – Ryan LaRue
#5 Jackie Strug - Tanis Strug
#6 Joanna McFarling - Barbara Moon
#7 Cassandra Briscoe - Mikey Johnson
#8 Theresa Halle – Patricia Schulte
#9 Ashlee Savona - Mary Savona
#10 Danielle Harding – Naomi Edwards
#11 Peyton Rector - Patty Haberkorn
#12 Yanci Johnson - Marvin Johnson
#13 Alex Rios – Rosa Corral
#14 Natalie Pena - Dixie Shewell
#15 Marissa Lees – Laura Wilder
#16 Julia Ranalli – Assunta Corso
#17 Alex Petermann – Joe Cerino
#18 Nikki Saunders – David Saunders
#19 Shannon Danku - Lisa Ewer
#20 Jeanette Coronel – Jennifer Lucas
#21 Cassidy Browning – Dawn Witiuk
#22 Taylor Mulnix - Chanda Lavergne
#24 Alexandria Jackson – Lillian Jackson
#23 Kim Pimentel Jennifer Lucas
#25 Shelby Balmer - Jimmy Balmer
#26 Chelsea Schaefer – Elsa Schaefer
#27 Jade Theriot – Mercedes Huval
Coach Donaldson – Linda Payne