HUNTSVILLE, Texas — The Northwestern State women's soccer team wrapped up non-conference play Saturday at ULM. It was the second of two out-of-conference matchups for the 2021 season.

That's not exactly a lengthy or normal non-conference slate for the Lady Demons. But in a time where not much feels normal, it will suffice. 

And while it wasn't an ideal pre-Southland Conference schedule, NSU competed against two very different teams and found a way to be successful in two varying schemes. That will help immensely when it comes to playing conference foes. 

"It's going to be tremendously beneficial," said co-head coach Jess Jobe. "The results showed our team being able to adjust and react to those things. We want to take that experience into conference. It's something we want to continue to build off."

Sam Houston is the first conference foe for NSU. The match is slated for Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Huntsville, Texas. 

As stated, NSU received plenty in return from its two non-conference matches. It also won both games, a 2-1 victory over Louisiana Tech and a 3-0 win over ULM. 

Junior goalkeeper Acelya Aydogmus headlined those performances, as she was named Southland Conference Goalkeeper of the Week. She turned away three shots against the Lady Techsters and made one save in her shutout of the Warhawks. 

Junior Kalee Williams provided more than enough offensive firepower. She fired six shots and half of them found the back of the net, matching her goal output from a season ago. 

"She's putting herself in some great positions," Jobe said. "She's popping up in the right place. She works hard, and we are getting her in a lot of opportunities to be really dangerous in front of goal."

Williams enjoyed a strong 2019 season where she tallied eight points. However, she missed playing the Southland Conference Championship against Lamar due to injury.

That disappointment has resulted in an added chip, which is fueling Williams here in the early going.

"Missing a chance to play in a conference championship, that really hurt," Jobe said. "She has come back hungry and ready to go and she's working really hard to do what the team needs from her."

Sophomore Olivia Draguicevich — who led the team with six goals in 2019 — owns one goal this season. Freshman Kyle Nolen rounds out NSU's goal-scorers, as she netted her first-career score against ULM. 

Sam Houston doesn't have any player who has tallied a goal this season because the Bearcats have yet to play a game. They didn't schedule any non-conference contests, meaning Sam Houston's most recent match was a 3-0 loss to Northwestern State in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Southland Conference Tournament. 

NSU finished runner-up in that conference tournament, but it isn't going to let that high level of success distract it from that task at hand. 

"Right now our focus is on Friday, and that's going to continue to be the case," Jobe said. "Game by game, that's how we are going to create success, and that's how we are going to build a championship campaign. Our focus right now is not on winning a championship, it's winning Friday."

NSU is 13-6-0 all-time against the Bearkats. Northwestern State won both matchups in 2019, and its last lost in the series occurred in 2018. 

Following the game against Sam Houston, NSU travels to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Feb. 19.