THIBODAUX – Marking the halfway point of Southland Conference play, the Northwestern State soccer team resumes competition with a road trip into the southern reaches of the Pelican state.

NSU (4-4-3, 4-1-1 SLC) travels to Thibodaux on Friday in a rematch with Nicholls (0-10, 0-6 SLC). Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Nicholls Soccer Complex.

In their last meeting, the Lady Demons scorched the Colonels 4-0 at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex in the opening weekend of league play. The barrage was led by a two-goal, one-assist outing from senior defender Natalee Henry. In the match, NSU took 20 shots attempts, resulting in nine shots on goal.

Despite the first match's result and Nicholls' apparent struggles this season, head coach Stuart Gore wants to enter Friday's match against the Colonels with a fresh mindset.

"I think you've got to give Nicholls a proper amount of respect," Gore said. "They kept it close last weekend against Southeastern, and they certainly need to be taken seriously.

"The previous game is in the past, and that's where it needs to stay. I tell the girls all the time that we need to live in the present and look toward the future, and that's where our heads are at heading into Friday."

Having competed across the entire spectrum of Southland opponents, Gore explains the importance of not falling into complacency and treating each match as a new opponent.

"I think everybody is going to make adjustments, just as we have," Gore said "The teams we played last week, three weeks ago, won't be the same heading into the second stretch.

"They're going to be adjusting to how we play, and we've got to prepare accordingly."

Junior forward Olivia Draguicevich stands as the Lady Demons' leading scorer, having scored seven goals through the opening six matches of league play. Draguicevich is one goal short of tying the program record for goals in a single season against conference opponents and one game winning goal away from tying the career record in that category as well. Both records are held by former Lady Demon Hillarie Marshall, who set both benchmarks during the 2000 season in which NSU claimed its lone regular season title.

Sophomore midfielder Delaney Wells has begun to have an impact on the pitch for NSU, having scored or assisted in four of her last five starts for the Lady Demons. Wells kept her streak alive on Sunday, scoring the equalizer in a heated 1-1 draw against Houston Baptist in the 81^st minute.

Wells had high praise for Gore and associate head coach Melissa Sherwood, crediting her recent success on the adjustments the new coaching regime has brought.

"With Stu and Mel coming in and making small adjustments to our style of play, and really focusing on sharpening up team communication -- I really think that's the crux of what has helped myself and the team improve this season," Wells said.

The race for first place in the Southland Conference has become more crowded of late, with the emergence of reigning Southland Conference Tournament Champion Southeastern Louisiana. SLU (5-5-1, 3-2-1 SLC) has won three of its last four conference matches, including a 1-1 draw at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. McNeese (8-3-1, 5-1 SLC) leads the way, with the Lady Demons trailing at 4-1-1 following a McNeese loss and Sunday's draw against HBU.

NSU follows up its match at Nicholls with a Sunday afternoon rematch against Southeastern Louisiana.