NATCHITOCHES -- The phrase "there's no place like home" might ring more true Friday when Northwestern State steps into the Lady Demon Soccer Complex for the first time this season when it hosts Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m.
 
The Lady Demons (3-4) haven't played a true home game yet after moving one home game to Alexandria and another to Shreveport because of wet field conditions.
 
Senior Peyton Rector has had an even longer wait to return to the home atmosphere. She last played a match on NSU grass Nov. 2, 2014, celebrating her own senior day before deciding to return to soccer after a year-long mission trip.
 
"It was really frustrating not being able to play our first two home games because we knew we had a lot of fans that were looking forward to seeing us play," Rector said. "It should be a great atmosphere on a Friday night with it being a conference game and against a big rival of ours like SFA.
 
"Stepping away from college sports for basically two years has been different, but college sports are a whole different world and you get absorbed into it."
 
SFA (3-2) has won its last three matches, topping UTSA and Texas State by one goal each before a 2-0 win against UTEP.
 
But NSU has confidence against the Ladyjacks, who have won the last five regular season Southland Conference titles. The Lady Demons tied SFA on the road in 2015, the first point in the standings the program has logged against the Ladyjacks since 2008.
 
"It's a huge confidence booster for us," said junior defender Sage Leffew. "With everybody out here cheering us on at home, we're ready to get after it.
 
"It's a different environment to play home games away from home. Now that we're at home, we're ready for the great atmosphere from our fans."
 
Not only has NSU not been able to play matches on its home surface, the Lady Demons didn't have a full practice on their own field until late this week.
 
NSU coach George Van Linder said his team weathered that storm well.
 
"To have that home-field advantage that everyone enjoys will be big," said Van Linder, who has posted a winning record at home in his first four seasons in Natchitoches. "We've practiced in a lot of places, and the school has been really supportive in finding places for us to practice.
 
"But there's no place like home. The tie at SFA last year was big for the culture of our program. A few years ago, SFA would have their way with us, but each year it's been getting closer. It speaks to the confidence level of our players, and we're not as afraid as we used to be to play this type of a program."
 
Junior goalkeeper Alex Latham and the NSU defense has posted three shutouts this season, ranking No. 30 in the nation. Latham's 44 saves rank No. 26 among Division I keepers as she won the SLC Goalkeeper of the Week in the opening week.
 
SFA goalkeeper Lillie Ehlert won that honor this past week as the Ladyjacks beat Texas State 3-2 in overtime and shut out UTEP 2-0.
 
NSU junior Esdeina Gonzalez has been a focal point of the offense as her four assists rank No. 34 nationally.
 
Three different Lady Demons have scored three goals each in senior Camila Ardila and sophomores Brittany Caserma and April Trowbridge.
 
SFA's Hannah Barker and Hailey Hunt have two goals each.