NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State soccer team is set to open its season 2014 season on Friday when the Lady Demons host Louisiana College at 7 o'clock in the Lady Demon Soccer Complex on "Feed Your Face Friday."
 
Northwestern State students who attend the game will be treated to free food.  Admission for opening weekend is free for all fans, courtesy of the Demons Unlimited Foundation.
  
Fans can watch the game and track stats at NSUDemons.com, and live in-game updates will be available on Twitter by following @NSUDemonsSOC.
   
After missing the Southland Conference Tournament last season by a half-game, Northwestern State enters the season with their sights on a seed for the first time since 2008.  The Lady Demons claimed five league wins in 2013, the most since 2005.
    
NSU, who was picked ninth in the coaches' poll and seventh in the sports information directors' poll, return three of its top six scorers from a season ago, including the leader in points and goals, Brooke Eastburg.
 
Another lift to the Lady Demons is getting back fifth-year senior Yanci Johnson, who missed the last 17 games of 2013 after a knee injury. She has 30 career points on 12 goals and six assists.  Johnson and Eastburg lead a group of four forwards, including freshmen Esdeina Gonzalez and Caché Haley.
 
In the midfield, seniors Nikki Saunders, Chelsea Schaefer and Julia Ranalli top a group of 16 student-athletes.  The returning group features three seniors, three juniors (Natalie Pena, Joanna McFarling and Cassandra Briscoe) and sophomore Camila Ardila.
    
Jackie Strug and Shannon Daku lead group of nine defenders, including three seniors (Alex Rios), two juniors (Shelby Balmer, Peyton Rector) and sophomore (Kim Pimentel).  
 
Brooke Bourbonais, who has 22 starts, enters as the leader in goal.  Two freshmen, Alex Latham and Cadence Starr, enter as very credentialed keepers.  
 
The Lady Demons return 56 percent of their goals scored and 55 percent of their points from 2013.  They return 15 letterwinners and add 14 newcomers.  
 
Louisiana College is coming off of a 4-12-1 campaign and a 2-7-1 mark in the American Southwest Conference.  The series between the two teams sits at 4-4-1.
  
Northwestern State will host Louisiana-Monroe in its second game of the season on Sunday at 1 o'clock in the Lady Demon Soccer Complex. Admission to the contest is also free.