NATCHITOCHES – The years of experience are finally paying off for the Northwestern State soccer team.

When Abilene Christian scored a goal in the 15^th minute Friday to take an early lead, the Lady Demons didn't panic – a trait which NSU has acquired through time via its 10 juniors and three seniors.

The Lady Demons (6-5, 3-1 Southland Conference) will attempt to build off the 2-1 overtime win when they host Incarnate Word (3-6-1, 2-2 SLC) on Sunday at 1 p.m.

"We've been a young team, but we're connecting better than we've ever had," said Esdeina Gonzalez, who provided the game-winning header in overtime.  "This is our year that we're becoming very good.

"Hopefully we get far with that."
NSU has won three consecutive matches for the first time since 2012 and three consecutive conference matches for the first time since 2007.

The Lady Demons are tied for third with ACU behind leaders Stephen F. Austin (7-2, 4-0) and Central Arkansas (9-3, 4-0) in the conference standings. Six teams advance to the SLC Tournament, a place where NSU hasn't been since 2008.

UIW is coming off a 5-0 loss at Central Arkansas on Friday.

The Cardinals had beaten Southeastern (2-1) and Nicholls (3-0) in San Antonio the previous weekend.

"UIW has a coach in her second or third year, and she has a great background as a player and has done well as a coach," said NSU head coach George Van Linder. "She's got players in that's bought into their system.

"Because of that, they are more and more dangerous. It's always been a difficult matchup, and it'll be exciting on Sunday."

NSU and UIW battled to a scoreless tie in 2015 with the Lady Demons winning 1-0 in 2014, meaning just one combined goal has been scored in the last two meetings. UIW won the first meeting to set the series record at 1-1-1.

Sophomore forward April Trowbridge leads the way with a team-high five goals and 10 points. Gonzalez has a team-best five assists to go with her two goals and nine overall points.

Junior goalkeeper Alex Latham, who made six saves Friday including in a one-on-one situation in overtime, lowered her goals against average to 1.32 with 14 goals allowed in 11 matches.