LAFAYETTE – Northwestern State soccer coach George Van Linder viewed this weekend's competition like a tough stretch in Southland Conference play.
After a 2-1 heartbreaking overtime loss to ULM in which the Warhawks scored two goals in the last 20 minutes, the Lady Demons (2-2-1) must rebound for a difficult matchup with UL Lafayette on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Van Linder said these in-state rivalries are important, partly because of recruiting implications.

"We're a young team, and I don't think a lot of them appreciate games against ULM and ULL and of course in-state games in the Southland Conference," Van Linder said. "They are battles and they are dogfights.

"The days of winning 5-0 and 6-0 are over, and we've got to do the little things that let us be on top. We're chasing the same players as ULM and ULL."

NSU freshman Brittany Caserma scored the Lady Demons' lone goal Friday to give her squad a lead they until the 77^th-minute of regulation. Caserma's three goals combined with freshman forward Kayleigh Phillips' four goals account for seven of NSU's 10 scores this season.

ULL (3-2) is 2-1 against the Southland this season, beating Nicholls (2-0) and McNeese State (1-0) after losing to Sam Houston State (1-0) in the season opener.

But ULM dropped contests to two SLC opponents before beating NSU on Friday, losing games to McNeese State (2-1) and Central Arkansas (1-0).

ULL has beaten NSU the last three meetings by a combined score of 8-1, including a 5-0 win in 2014. The Ragin' Cajuns are on a two-match winning streak after beating Southern Miss 2-1 and McNeese 1-0.
Kimberly Grasso (two goals) is the only ULL player to score more than one goal as the Ragin' Cajuns have six goals in five games. ULL has allowed only five goals in those contests, including three to Ole Miss.

Northwestern State has scored 10 goals in five games while allowing seven, four of which came in a loss to then-No. 5 Texas A&M and a tie with LSU.

NSU's goal keeper timeshare is expected to continue. With a scoreless first half, senior Brooke Bourbonais has posted four clean halves in her five outings. She held LSU-Alexandria, LSU, Jackson State and ULM scoreless in her halves. Bourbonais's three allowed goals all came against Texas A&M.

Sophomore Alex Latham, who faced much tougher situations in allowing two goals to ULM than Bourbonais on Friday, has surrendered a total of four goals in five halves. She posted a scoreless half against Texas A&M.