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PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Head coach George Van Linder and the Northwestern State soccer team open the final non-conference weekend of 2014 when the Lady Demons take on Prairie View A&M on Friday at 7 o'clock at the PVAM Soccer Field. 
 
The final match of the non-conference season will be at 1 o'clock on Sunday against Jackson State at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex.
 
Prairie View A&M is 0-4 on the season with losses to Southland Conference members McNeese State and Sam Houston, both by one goal.  The Panthers remained tied with Lamar when the game was suspended with 39 minutes left due to weather.
 
NSU (1-5) will look to end a five-game skid when the take the field Friday night.
 
"Prairie View A&M is a strong team, and have done pretty well against the Southland Conference," said Van Linder.   "The other day they hung with Lamar, and battled Sam Houston and McNeese.  It's going to be like a conference game without being a conference game."
 
Three Panthers have points this season.  Reina Mata and Celene Batrez are tied at the top with two apiece, and Alicia Cooper has one.  PVAMU has started two goalkeepers who have combined for six goals allowed and eight saves.
 
Julia Ranalli leads Northwestern State with seven points and has two goals on the year, which ties with Freshman Esdenia Gonzalez for the lead.
 
Three of the top five leaders for NSU in minutes are freshmen.  Jackie Strug leads the way with 506, followed by Sage Leffew (466), Maja Lambertsson (444), Gonzalez (381) and Yanci Johnson (375).
 
"We have a lot of talent on this team, we just have to turn our talented players into a talented team, and we're getting there," said Van Linder. "I think people watching can see our progress, and we're excited.
 
"This will be a great week for us to see how we do in getting ready for conference," he said.
 
Northwestern State has also split time between to goalkeepers, but Alex Latham played the entire match in NSU's loss to Baylor on Sunday.  Latham has a 1-3 record with 15 saves and 13 goals allowed.  Brooke Bourbonais is 0-2 with nine saves and six goals allowed.
 
The combined record for teams that defeated NSU this season is 22-5, including two undefeated teams.
 
After Jackson State, the Lady Demons will open league play on the road at Lamar on Sept. 19 before returning home to face Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 21 at 1 o'clock.