NACOGDOCHES, Texas—The Northwestern State soccer team takes a three-match winning streak into conference play when it battles Stephen F. Austin Friday at the SFA Soccer Field.

The match begins at 7 p.m. It will be televised live on ESPN3.

NSU (3-5) won its final three non-conference contests, all by one goal. The Lady Demons won last Sunday against UL Lafayette 2-1 in double overtime on a goal by freshman Olivia Draguicevich. The freshman scored both goals in the victory.

Draguicevich is the team's leading scorer, having scored four goals for eight total points.

SFA (3-4) is coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to Houston, but before that loss, it won the two previous matches against Texas Southern and LSU-Alexandria by a combined 6-0.

In the series, the Lady Demons have not defeated Stephen F. Austin since a 4-0 victory in 2002. That includes a 1-0 SFA win last season in the Southland opener in Natchitoches.

"We've played quality opponents in non-conference," co-head coach Jess Jobe said. "Now we've proven we can beat quality opponents, so we'll go in with the same confidence and belief and build on the things we've been doing. 

If we focus on our process and we focus on us, and we put together the best performance we're capable of, I think we'll be happy with the result Friday."

The defense has been stout for the Lady Demons during the winning streak, only allowing one goal during that time. Freshman Hallie Field was named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week last week when they swept a pair of Sun Belt teams, and allowed just one goal in 200 total minutes. She also scored the deciding goal in the 1-0 victory against Texas State last Friday.

"I think trusting each other has been the biggest key to our success," Kalee Williams said. "At first, we were getting to know each other, but now we have really good team chemistry. I think that's a big part of how we've been playing on the field. I think we've been coming together and it has shown on the field the last few games."

Field, Williams, freshman Samantha Hanking and sophomores Natalee and Nicole Henry have all played a big role the strong defense. Opponents have had 31 shots in the last six games, and NSU has won the shot battle in the last six contests.

Draguicevich has four of the team's seven goals. Field and sophomores Jalen Donaldson and Kiara Padilla have the others. Freshman Olivia Mattsson leads the Lady Demons in assists with two, both coming in the win against UL Lafayette.

At goalkeeper, Acelya Aydogmus played the entire contest against Texas State and earned her first shutout of the season. She played the first half against UL Lafayette. Senior Kayla Bomben has the other shutout on the season against Jackson State and came in and played the second half and both overtimes against ULL, not allowing a goal. She made three key saves in the first overtime against the Ragin' Cajuns to help NSU come away with the win.

Six players for SFA have at least two goals. Three players have three goals for the Ladyjacks—Katelyn Termini, Sophia Fondren and Mattie Musser—with the first two having three assists as well. They lead the team with nine points each. They are also the only two Ladyjacks with double digit shots. Fondren was a second team All-Southland member in 2018.

Allyson Halliday has played every minute of every game in 2019 so far at goalkeeper. She has given up 10 goals in seven games, and has 37 saves for the Ladyjacks.

NSU comes back to Natchitoches Sept. 27 for a battle with Lamar before rounding out the home weekend with a visit from in-state rival McNeese.