NATCHITOCHES -- In the 1-0 loss to reigning Southland Conference champion Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 16, the Northwestern State soccer team demonstrated it can hang with the league's best.
 
Now the Lady Demons (3-5, 0-1 SLC) will attempt to turn the corner and post points in the conference standings when they head to Lamar (1-7-1, 0-0-1) on Friday and McNeese (4-4, 0-1) on Sunday.
 
NSU hasn't made the six-team conference tournament since 2008, but sophomore forward Brittany Caserma believes this year's team has an improved mental approach.
 
"Last year, we were so frustrated with the results," Caserma said about a team that posted a 2-2-2 record against SLC Tournament teams and an 0-4-1 mark against non-qualifying squads in 2015. "We could have placed a lot better than we did in the conference.
 
"We want to get those results this year, and it comes down to wanting it more. It's about the 50-50 balls, the one-two passes and realizing that anybody can beat anybody in this conference. We want it a lot more than we did last year, and I think we'll have more success."
 
NSU coach George Van Linder noted plenty of positives from the conference opener against SFA, but he added it ultimately didn't help the Lady Demons achieve their goal of reaching the league tournament.
 
"We didn't get any points out of it," Van Linder said. "We played well against SFA, but if we don't get wins and points, we can't get to where we want to go.
 
"We've had a lot of good offensive chances, and now we have to finish those. Our defending has been strong with (goalkeeper) Alex Latham and (center back) Patry Carrion leading those efforts. We have to take pressure off them by scoring goals."
 
NSU hasn't scored a goal in its last two games, but it's flashed more offensive diversity.
 
Sophomore April Trowbridge, a transfer from Canada's Dalhousie University, leads the team with four goals and found her way to Natchitoches through an SFA connection.
 
"(Van Linder) recruited my sister (Melissa Gaudet) to SFA, and she thrived there," Trowbridge said. "When I was looking to come to the states, we contacted (Van Linder).
 
"(Gaudet) talked about how I might fit on the team, and it's worked out. Division I is a lot quicker pace, but I've gotten used to it. The team plays as a collective, and we're all gelling pretty well."
 
Lamar's lone win came in 3-0 fashion against Southern, but the Cardinals have scored just two other goals in their remaining eight contests.
 
NSU has 12 goals, but nine were scored in wins against Jackson State and Texas Wesleyan.
 
The Cardinals earned a point in the standings in a scoreless tie with Nicholls in their opener.
 
"Both Lamar and McNeese have new head coaches, so there's a little bit of the unknown," Van Linder said. "This can be a great weekend for us and gives us a chance to set the tone for the rest of the conference season."