NATCHITOCHES -- A stout defense has played a crucial role in Northwestern State soccer's 2-1 start to Southland Conference play.
 
The Lady Demons (5-5, 2-1 SLC) will need to stand tall Friday as they welcome a hot Abilene Christian (4-6-1, 3-0 SLC) squad that has scored eight goals in its first three league wins. Fans attending the 7 p.m. match could receive a free rally towel (limited supply).
 
Sophomore Alex Latham, the reigning SLC Goalkeeper of the Week, leads an NSU defense that's allowed just three goals in the past four games with a shutout of Lamar.
 
NSU switched formations midseason to a 3-4-3 in an attempt to create more scoring opportunities, but the change has benefitted the defense as well despite fewer defenders from its 4-4-2 formation.
 
"We were all nervous going to three in the back, but those three defenders are very solid, and I trust them with everything," said Latham, whose four individual shutouts is a program best since Brooke Bourbonais posted four in 2012. "We're adjusting very well, and we're shifting and covering for each other.
 
"As for myself, I've worked a lot on my distribution of the ball and goal kicks. I've also done a lot of work on coming out (of the goal) on crosses, so I've alleviated that for my team."
 
The result has been 10 goals allowed in nine of its matches (not including an 8-0 loss at SMU).
 
NSU coach George Van Linder said the defense was a point of emphasis in the preseason after losing two regulars off the backline and moving another (Amy Renteria) to the midfield.
 
"The defense has been great, and I'm really proud of them," Van Linder said. "It didn't work 100 percent until the (formation) change, and now they seem to work really well together.
 
"I'm excited because they've played only a couple of weeks in the formation, so we expect them to get better.
 
Senior Patry Carrion, who started the season as an attacking player, returned to her centerback position to fortify the backline.
 
"We know how to drop and stay together with three in the back," said Carrion, who was an honorable mention all-conference defender as a junior. "Even when someone misses, we can see the ball coming and it makes our job easier to cover for them."
 
Experienced outside backs in junior Sage Leffew and sophomore Ysmina Smith have solidified NSU's flanks.
"It's been a pretty easy transition with Patry holding down the middle like always and (Smith) and I doing work on the outside," Leffew said. "(Latham) in the back is as solid as ever.

"We're communicating really well and backing each other up whenever we see someone step to an opponent."
 
Smith added each player's individual ball skills has thwarted opponents' attacks.
 
"With just three in the back, if one person messes up, it can lead to a goal being scored on you," Smith said. "We're capitalizing on our (1 v. 1) play, and if any player has the ball in front of us, we can win it.
 
"We know people have our back even if we don't win it."
 
Twelve different Wildcats have scored ACU's 18 goals this season with no player scoring more than two goals. One constant is Chloe Fifer, who's contributed four of her SLC-best seven assists in conference play.
 
NSU sophomore April Trowbridge is tied for fifth in the SLC with five goals scored. Junior Esdeina Gonzalez is tied for fifth in the SLC with four assists this season.
 
ACU has won all three meetings in the series history, which have occurred in the last three seasons.