NATCHITOCHES -- Peyton Rector has been here before.
 
The Northwestern State soccer senior walked to midfield of the Lady Demon Soccer Complex with her family two years ago, thinking she was celebrating her final home soccer match as part of the senior day festivities.
 
But Rector returned to NSU soccer for her final year of eligibility after going on a year-long mission trip around the world, and she'll be one of three Lady Demon seniors honored Friday when NSU (9-6, 6-2 Southland Conference) hosts Nicholls (6-6-1, 3-4-1 SLC) at 7 p.m.
 
Rector joins senior Camila Ardila and Patry Carrion, the first senior class to lead NSU to the Southland Conference Tournament since 2008.
 
"I'm excited to have my parents here for my real last senior night, and I'm excited to see the fans, too," said Rector, who suffered a knee injury nine matches into the season and hopes to return by the end of the regular season. "It's emotional because it really is the last (home soccer weekend).
 
"Being away from (soccer) for almost two years, I was nervous at first, but it's been cool getting back on the field with the girls I used to play with."
 
Rector, who's primarily been a defensive player in her time, has two goals and two assists in nearly 30 career starts and more than 50 appearances.
 
Ardila is the only senior who's been in the program each of the last three seasons.
 
The Miami native is having her best season yet with four goals scored, including a key goal Sunday in a 2-1 against Houston Baptist that clinched a conference tournament spot.
 
"It finally feels like you accomplished your goals. Making the conference tournament was the goal every year," said Ardila, who won the SLC Offensive Player of the Week award Sept. 6 with three goals in a weekend. "It's been amazing every time I've stepped on the (home field).
 
"You still get a little jittery, but we can come back on teams at home because the crowd pumps us up."
 
Ardila, who is originally from Colombia, has had a little piece of her former home at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex with cheering from Colombian foreign exchange students the past two seasons.
 
"They've changed the atmosphere completely," Ardila said. "It was nice before, but now we have a huge advantage.
 
"They're so loud -- maybe a little obnoxious. But they get into the game, bring a great vibe and are so supportive and positive."
 
Ardila has nine career goals and three assists as part of her 50-plus starts and 70 appearances.
 
Carrion has spent the past two years at NSU after transferring from Texas Christian as an attacking midfielder.
 
But the Cartagena, Spain, native has made her impact defensively, anchoring a back line that's average 1.5 goals allowed per game the past two seasons after NSU surrendered close to two goals per game the previous three seasons.
 
"Having some background on defense from last year, it wasn't hard to adjust to defense again," said Carrion, who does have two game-winning goals and a game-winning assist this year. "We're more solid on defense now because we know each other better.
 
"And the people up top (on offense) are doing great, so that's helping us, too. My time here has been exciting, but we're not done yet. We want to do our best to win the (SLC Tournament)."
 
Carrion's selflessness is typical of this senior class, and NSU coach George Van Linder said it's hard to measure the impact these three players have had.
 
"It's been huge, this year and all through their careers," Van Linder said. "Patry has been a huge reason for our success in terms of volunteering to move herself back to defense after wanting to play up top.
 
"Camila was one of the first players I recruited, and she embodied the style we wanted to play. It's been phenomenal to watch her grow, and it's hard to believe there will be NSU games without her. Peyton brings a different perspective that none of the other players have, and she shares that with our team. Between all three of our players, they all seem to reach somebody and provide that leadership."
 
NSU will need that leadership against a Nicholls team that's won its last two to vault into the tournament picture. The Colonels beat Stephen F. Austin, 1-0 and Sam Houston State, 3-0.
 
Nicholls beat NSU, 2-1, in overtime this past season, the first time the Lady Demons have lost to the Colonels in the programs' 25 meetings (23-1-1).
 
The NSU soccer program, started in 1996, will celebrate its 20^th anniversary at halftime by honoring former Lady Demons.