CONWAY, Ark.—For the first time since 2005, the Northwestern State soccer team will try to advance to the NCAA Tournament, as it will battle top-seeded Lamar in the Southland Conference Tournament title game Sunday at the Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex.

The game begins at 1:05 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN+.

It is a battle of the top offense in the conference against the top defense. Lamar has scored 11 goals in its two tournament games, outscoring opponents 11-3. NSU, on the other hand, has yet to allow a goal in the tournament so far.

In the regular season, Lamar had 41 goals during league play, which was 10 more than second place Abilene Christian. NSU allowed just eight goals during league action, which was tops in the conference.

Something has to give.

This is the second time in three seasons it will be a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown in the tournament title game.

NSU (13-7-1) has won six matches in a row and has a record of 13-2-1 since beginning the season dropping its first five.

"I believe it's been a long time since a team from Louisiana made the tournament championship game for soccer," co-head coach Jess Jobe said. "We're excited to represent Louisiana and Northwestern State with an opportunity to bring back a trophy.

Lamar (15-6) only lost one game in conference and has won 11 in a row. In all 11, the Cardinals have scored multiple goals, including three goals in 10 of them. In the 12 victories against league foes, Lamar has scored at least three goals 11 times, and has scored five or more goals six times.

That loss, however, was in the previous meeting between the Cardinals and Lady Demons on Sept. 27. Sophomore Kalee Williams headed in a goal in the 88^th minute to tie the contest at 1, and defender Natalee Henry's goal shortly after a corner kick in overtime gave NSU the victory.

It has been the only time in 13 contests that Lamar has been held to fewer than two goals.

The overtime win is one of four on the season for NSU in five games, going 4-0-1. The four overtime wins and five overall overtime contests are the most in school history for a season.

Three of the overtime games were ended on a goal by freshman Olivia Draguicevich, who leads the team in goals (6) and points (12). Her four overall game-winning goals are tied for the most in school history.

"Olivia has a knack for showing up in the right place at the right time," Jobe said. "She is very instinctual when she gets around the goal and she knows where the goal is at all times. Those are attributes of good goal scorers.

When she gets in those opportunities, she is focused on one thing, and that's putting the ball in the back of the net."

Jalen Donaldson is second on the team in goals (4) and points (10). Her 26 shots on goal is 10^th in school history for a single season and the 33 in her career ranks 10^th.

Senior Jayden Wheeler has scored three goals in the last five games for NSU, including game-winners against Central Arkansas and Sam Houston State.

"There are so many emotions," Wheeler said. "It could be my last game ever, but this could be something super special. It's already super special, but being able to get a win in the conference tournament championship with these girls would be unbelievable."

Trying to slow down the offense is the Lady Demons No. 1 ranked defense in the conference. Three members of the back line—Nicole Henry, Natalee Henry and Hallie Field—were named to the All-Conference teams, including Nicole Henry, who was named Defensive Player of the Year.

"As a back three, we have to do our thing by staying connected and being disciplined," Nicole Henry said. "We'll need to communicate with not only each other, but everybody."

Lady Demons have two tremendous goalkeepers. Acelya Aydogmus has started the two conference tournament games and stopped all seven opponent shots, as well as intercept crosses to avoid opponents getting shots on frame.

Aydogmus has six shutouts, including five against Southland competition. Two of those have been in the conference tournament. The six are fifth in school history for a single season and seventh in a career. Her Goals Against Average is 1.31, and in league competition, she has allowed just one goal in six starts.

Senior Kayla Bomben has also had a great year. She has a GAA of 0.99 and a save percentage of 79 percent. In league play, she allowed just seven goals in seven games, and saved a career-high 12 shots against the second-best offense in the conference (Abilene Christian).

Lamar had four players selected to the first team All-Conference, led by high-scoring forwards Esther Okoronkwo and Southland Conference Player of the Year Lucy Ashworth.
Okoronkwo (23 goals) and Ashworth (19) are two of the top goal scorers in the country, and Ashworth's 17 assists lead the country. The former scored the lone Cardinals goal in the first meeting.

Erin Branch and Sandra Nygard are the two Lamar goalkeepers who have played often. Branch played the whole game against Stephen F. Austin and the first 76:27 of the win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

The winner heads to the NCAA Tournament, earning the Southland Conference's automatic berth.