NATCHITOCHES – Two days after an offensive explosion against Louisiana College, the Northwestern State soccer team will look to keep it going when the Lady Demons host Louisiana-Monroe at 1 o'clock on Sunday in the Lady Demon Soccer Complex.
 
NSU (1-0) downed Louisiana College 9-1 Friday night, and was led by senior Julia Ranalli and Esdenia Gonzalez. Ranalli had five points, one goal and three assists, and Gonzalez had four points on two goals.
 
Sunday's game will be the first of the regular season contest for ULM. 
 
The game is a part of Welcome Week for NSU students, and will have waterslides and games. Entry is free for all fans courtesy of the Demons Unlimited Foundation.  Fans who cannot attend can watch a live stream and track stats at NSUDemons.com.
 
ULM is coming off of a 6-12-1 campaign last season, and had a 1-7 Sun Belt record.  It returns 20 letterwinners and 10 starters from the 2013 team.  The Warhawks defeated NSU 3-1 a season ago.
 
Northwestern State outshot the Lady Wildcats 28-2 for the game, and never let LC onto its own side of the field during the entire second half. Of NSU's 28 shots, 18 were on goal.
 
Sophomore Camila Ardila scored the match's first goal in the ninth minute on an unassisted goal.  Just over a minute later, Harmon Jayme tied the game for Louisiana College on an unaided goal. From there, NSU would go to score four more goals in the first half.
 
Freshman Sage Leffew who was one of seven freshmen to start the match, broke the tie on a header from a corner kick by Nikki Saunders in the 23^rd minute. Ranlli scored her first goal of the season in the 31^st minute, and then assisted on the next two goals.
 
Peyton Rector scored with Ranalli's help in the 33^rd minute, and both teamed up to assist Cache Haley on her first career goal.
 
Shannon Danku opened the second half with a goal in the 66^th minute on an assist by Camila Ardila right in front of the goal. Saunders added another assist in the 73^rd minute to get Payton Roney get first career goal.
 
Gonzalez scored back-to-back goals on two perfect crosses from Mackenna Richardson Ranalli.  Both passes drew out the LC goalkeeper and allowed Gonzalez to chip in both scores.
 
The Lady Demons open a two-game road swing Friday when they travel to LSU followed by a game at Texas State Aug. 30.