LAKE CHARLES -- The Northwestern State soccer team didn't get the result they wanted to start Southland Conference play in a 1-0 loss to Stephen F. Austin this past week.

But the Lady Demons (6-3, 0-1 SLC) might have gained something just as valuable as they prepare for arguably their toughest weekend of the season with trips to McNeese on Friday and Lamar on Sunday.

"(The SFA game) was a great experience for us because it injected a lot of belief in our players and in our staff," said first-year co-head coach Jess Jobe.  "That loss still stings because we fought hard enough and played well enough for one point if not three.

"But the belief we gained after walking away and knowing that we were the aggressor and that we outpossessed a good SFA team, that's very important. That performance allows us to be confident going forward, and we were doing things intentionally in areas that we think are going to lead to success for us."

NSU outshot SFA 18-4 in the loss with the Ladyjacks' goal being their  only shot on frame.

McNeese (6-4, 0-1 SLC) is stinging from an opening conference loss at Southeastern, but the Cowgirls figure to play a role in the league race after finishing third in the league standings this past season.

The Cowgirls upset Arkansas on its home field earlier this season.

Lamar (4-3) is the defending SLC regular season and conference tournament champions.

NSU edged the Cowgirls in its last trip to Lake Charles in 2016, but McNeese has won the last two meetings. The Lady Demons fell to the Cowgirls in the opening round of the SLC Tournament to end a terrific rebound season before McNeese escaped with an overtime win in 2017.

NSU is 13-13-5 all-time against McNeese.

"We're working this week in practice on taking advantages of the opportunities that we have because that's how games are in the in the Southland Conference," said senior forward Brittany Caserma. "Overall our performance was really good Friday, but we didn't take advantage of the opportunities on goal, and that's what it came down to.

"We have a lot to learn from (the SFA game), but we worked really hard. It came down to finishing and getting on the end of balls, and we're working that in practice this week."

Caserma is a fixture in the center of an NSU offense that ranks No. 2 in Division I with 30 goals this season. The Murrieta, Calif., native has four goals this season and 20 in her career, which ranks eighth in NSU history.

Fellow senior April Trowbridge has 10 goals and four assists, which both lead the SLC. Her 2.56 points per game rank fifth in the country, and her 1.11 goals per game sit at fourth heading into the weekend.

But the Lady Demon defense deserves recognition for its steady improvement this season, holding SFA to just four shots and shutting out LSU-Alexandria in the shot category.

NSU is allowing just one goal per game on a little more than six shot attempts.

The Lady Demons are accomplishing those marks with three of the four back line memebers and goalkeeper Kayla Bomben being first-time starters.

Senior Ysmina Smith is a four-year starter as an outside back with sophomore Ashley Medawattage moving to the opposite backer position for the first time in her career.

NSU starts two freshmen at center back in Kalee Williams and Nicole Henry, who shifted from outside back a few games into the season.

"I definitely think it's gotten better since the first few games," Williams said. "I know Nicole and I as freshmen have gotten more comfortable.

"We're trusting each other back there. Nicole and I were hesitant in the beginning, but now it just flows. And with Bomben behind us, we're getting better and better each game."

NSU features 13 freshmen and six sophomores on its 26-player roster, and Williams said getting a taste of Southland Conference play against SFA will make the second weekend an easier adjustment.

"With it being the first conference game (Friday), I was nervous in the locker room," Williams said. "We know we're playing two big teams this weekend, but if we just stick to it and stay strong, we'll be fine."