NATCHITOCHES — The Northwestern State soccer team will encounter the back half of its first prototypical conference weekend slate Sunday. NSU will host Southeastern Louisiana in its second game in three days in a match set for a 1 p.m. start at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex. 

NSU is fresh off a 2-0 win over Nicholls on Friday night in Natchitoches. A sluggish first half blossomed into an offensive-filled second half of 15 shots, two of which found the back of the net. 

Sophomore Olivia Draguicevich opened the scoring with a goal in the 54th minute, her second score of the season. Freshman Cianne Talamo boasted her first-career goal in the 88th minute to put a bow on the match.

The victory moved the Lady Demons to 5-0 on the season and 3-0 in Southland Conference play. The 5-0 start is the best such start since 2009 when NSU began the season with five straight victories. 

Northwestern State has an opportunity to do something its never done Sunday. A win over the Lady Lions would make it six straight to open a season, which would constitute a first in school history. 

But that monumental first isn't something NSU is focused on.  

"I think we just need to come out with the same mindset we've had," Draguicevich said. "We need to handle our business, and we can't really worry about them."

Southeastern Louisiana enters Sunday's game at 1-1 overall, having only played Southland Conference foes. The Lady Lions opened the season with a 3-2 double-overtime victory at reigning Southland Conference champion, Lamar, but dropped a 3-0 decision at Central Arkansas on Friday. 

The win over Lamar turned some heads, and NSU co-head coach Jess Jobe knows the challenge the Lady Lions present. 

"It's another team that wouldn't be satisfied where they finished in the standings last season, and they've reloaded and refocused, and we have a lot for respect for the program," Jobe said. "They're well organized, and I think they're going to bring together a great game plan."

NSU edged Southeastern Louisiana last season 1-0 in Hammond. In that match, the Lady Lions suffered an own goal, and NSU goaltender Acelya Aydogmus recorded one save to preserve the shutout. 

Southeastern Louisiana has gotten the better of NSU, historically. The Lady Lions own a 22-13-2 lead in the all-time series.

Following Sunday's match, Northwestern State will travel to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday. That game is set to begin at 7 p.m.