NATCHITOCHES -- The Northwestern State soccer team feasted on its nonconference schedule of late as the Lady Demons have scored 22 goals in in its last four matches.
 
That output vaulted NSU (5-2) into the nation's leading offense with 3.57 goals per game.
 
But the Lady Demons know competition will get tougher Friday as they open Southland Conference play at home against traditional power Stephen F. Austin in a 7 p.m. game.
 
"The one word we're using is discipline," said April Trowbridge, who leads the conference in both goals scored (seven) and assists (four) this season. "We have to make sure we don't have any moments where we're giving our opponents easy opportunities.
 
"We have to play our game and settle in, staying disciplined in every aspect. SFA is one of our rivals. My sister (Melissa Gaudet) played at SFA, so this is a big one for me."
 
Trowbridge is tied for fifth in NCAA Division I with one goal per game and tied for sixth with 2.47 points per game.
 
The senior has spent the past two seasons in the middle of the NSU attack, but a move to the outside flank has allowed her take on opponents in 1-on-1 situations more often and create opportunities for teammates.
 
"Trowbridge is really great at creating for others, and it's especially shown in the last three or four matches," said NSU co-head coach Jess Jobe. "She has great assists, and she's unselfish in the box.
 
"We know April is a player who wants to create for herself and has that ability, but when the right decision is to slot a pass across the goal or get it to someone's feet, she's done that. She's proven dangerous in both areas, and she adds a whole other dynamic to us."
 
Trowbridge's seven goals is already a career high, increasing her total to 16 goals. Her 45 career points rank ninth all-time at NSU with her 13 career assists ranking eighth.
 
But Trowbridge has plenty of help from other NSU attackers.
 
Eleven other Lady Demons have scored at least one goal with senior Brittany Caserma (four goals) and freshmen Jalen Donaldson (three goals) and Norma Trejo (three goals) leading the way.
 
"We've gelled really well, and we've got a lot of players who help us up top," Trowbridge said. "It's great knowing that if (Brittany and I) draw attention to one side, we've got someone like Jalen on the other side where we can have a quick switch and be really dangerous.
 
"Norma is a great example of a player who is calm and composed in the box. Everyone is getting their bearings in front of the goal, and I can't wait to see what we do in conference play."
 
NSU starts conference play in search of its second SLC Tournament bid since 2008. The 2016 Lady Demons earned the No. 3 seed, but the 2017 squad missed the postseason with just two league wins.
 
A win against the Ladyjacks could provide even more momentum as NSU hasn't topped SFA since 2002. The teams tied three times since then, the last in 2015.
 
Senior defender Ysmina Smith, a freshman starter on that 2015 squad, said the veterans are trying to prepare an overall young team for the rigors of SLC play.
 
"You have to go into it as just another game, but these are really important," said Smith, who plays on a back line that features one sophomore and two freshmen, all first-year defenders. "These are the games that matter and what will get us to the next level.
 
"We have to focus, stay strong and stay together."
 
NSU will face an increase in competition in SLC play, but Jobe is confident his team will rise to the challenge.
 
"We crave competition, and we want to play teams that will challenge us," Jobe said. "We know SFA will do that.
 
"It doesn't take a whole lot to get excited or motivate our players for this one. We've been looking forward to this one for a long time."