SAN ANTONIO—For the fifth time in a row to open conference play, the Northwestern State soccer team will play an undefeated team in the league.

This time, it is the University of Incarnate Word. The contest is at noon Sunday at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.

If you go by preseason rankings, this is a matchup of the two most surprising teams in the conference to this point.

"(UIW coach) Emma (Wright-Cates) has done a great job," co-head coach Jess Jobe said. "They have been able to keep teams off the scoresheet so far. It will be a great test for us."

NSU (5-6-1 overall, 2-1-1 Southland) is coming off a 1-1 tie on the road against preseason favorite Abilene Christian. The last eight contests for the Lady Demons have been decided by one goal or fewer, with three of the last five going to overtime.

UIW (5-6, 4-0) is the most surprising team in the conference. The Cardinals are the only 4-0 team in league play, and have yet to allow a goal during Southland Conference action, outscoring their opponents 7-0 in the four games.

Freshman Olivia Draguicevich leads the Lady Demons in goals (4) and points (8). Ten players have at least two points. Freshmen Jayme Haynes and Olivia Mattsson have the lead in assists with two each.

On defense, the Lady Demons allowed an early goal at Abilene Christian, but shut the Wildcats out the last 90 minutes of the game. NSU has allowed 10 goals the last 10 games. Two defenders have won Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week this season, including last week when Natalee Henry took home the award.

Senior goalkeeper Kayla Bomben stopped a career-high 12 shots in the tie against ACU. In 462 minutes this season, the senior has made 24 saves and has a 1.17 goals against average. Her save percentage is 80 percent and has a shutout against Jackson State.

Sophomore Acelya Aydogmus has two shutouts in eight games this season, and has a 2.03 goals against average. But in her last four games, she has allowed just two goals and has a GAA of a miniscule 0.56.

For the Cardinals, only three players have scored a goal this season and just four have scored a point. UIW is led by Keeley Ayala. She has eight goals on the season, including one in all four conference matches. Her 17 points is nearly double of everybody else on UIW. Four of her goals have come off penalty kicks.

Brooke Hanson has three goals and nine points. Those two have combined for 63 shots and 33 shots on goal.

At goalkeeper, Cailey Croson has been lights out this season for UIW. In nearly 905 minutes, she has allowed just 10 goals and stopped 44 shots. Her goals against average is 0.99. She has started 10 of the 11 contests for the Cardinals, and all four conference games.

The Lady Demons return home next week for a single game against Sam Houston State Friday. It begins a three-match homestand for NSU.