NATCHITOCHES – The five Northwestern State seniors who will finish their careers Friday night at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex want to end their time in Natchitoches with a win.
 

But NSU (5-9-4, 2-5-3 Southland Conference) will host a Central Arkansas (6-11-1, 3-6-1 SLC) needing a win to remain alive in the hunt for the last conference tournament spot. The Senior Night celebration will begin about 15 minutes before the scheduled 7 p.m. match.
 

The Lady Demons were mathematically eliminated from the conference tournament this past weekend with an overtime loss to Nicholls and a tie to Southeastern.
 

But NSU coach George Van Linder said this class, his first upon taking the job four years ago, has built a legacy despite not making a conference tournament in their tenure.
 

"They've been tremendous. They had to come in as new freshmen, with me as a new coach, and they had to buy in quickly," Van Linder said. "We built relationships, and we were either going to stick together or not.
 

"Our program has had such a strong history in its 20 years of being strong academically, carrying themselves off the field in a good manner and working hard on the field. These seniors provided great leadership for us."
 

The five-member class includes midfielder Shelby Balmer, goalkeeper Brooke Bourbonais, midfielder Cassandra Briscoe, midfielder Joanna McFarling and defender Natalie Pena.
 

Briscoe produced a team-high 15 points this season (five goals, five assists) to boost her career total to 15 goals and 11 assists.
 

The Ontario, Canada, native is disappointed by not making an SLC tournament, but she acknowledges the strides this year's team made.
 

"Everyone will remember the LSU tie," Briscoe said. "We were down 1-0, and coming back to the tie the game against a big school like that is a big accomplishment.
 

"Then the tie against rival Stephen F. Austin was huge as well. I'm really excited to see what players will do in the next couple of years, especially those sophomores because they've been with us two years, and I've seen them grow. My only advice to them is to keep pushing. One year, we're going to make it."
 

NSU fared well against teams that are currently in the SLC tournament, posting a 2-2-2 mark compared to an 0-2-1 record against non-tournament squads.
 

Goalkeeper Brooke Bourbonais, a walk-on who went on to start 34 career matches, battled to return from a concussion and finish her career on the field.
 

"That means a lot," said Bourbonais, who missed five matches but returned Sunday against Southeastern and posted a scoreless half. "I wanted to do everything I can for my team.
 

"It obviously sucked missing part of my senior year with a concussion … but I want to finish strong and win the last game ever. The things I've gone through, it's been some of the best times and worst times of my life, but it's made me a better person overall."
 

Bourbonais posted a career-best 1.41 goals against average with 25 saves, increasing her career total to 134.
 

Balmer will be most remembered for her blond braid flying through the air on attempted headers.
 

"People say they can always see my braid coming up and flicking when I go for a header," said Balmer, who has three goals and one assist in her career. "Coaches say I'm the one that usually runs over people, so that's how teammates will remember me.
 

"The talent is there for the next team, and I have no doubt in the next year or two that they will make (the SLC tournament)."
 

Pena, who appeared in 27 matches with three starts, said she likes to share advice with the team that her dad gave to her.
 

"Maintain your friendships, and work at them," Pena said. "It's amazing how we can go from playing soccer, and a few years from now, I still hope I'm friends with girls on this team.
 

"This team has become a lot closer than any other team before. This team has strong potential, and they are understanding more that when we have chances, we have to finish them."
 

McFarling, who missed her senior season with an injury, said she's watched the younger players grow.
 

"It was very tough because you want to be out there helping your team," said McFarling, who totaled one goal and one assist in 31 matches. "I was lucky enough to have such a great team that kept me involved throughout the season, and I gave them a shoulder to lean on.
 

"I'd tell them to keep pushing, keep taking those shots. This is one of the best teams we've had in my time, and they are definitely going to do some great things in the future if they keep pushing themselves."