NATCHITOCHES — A multitude of reasons are present as to why the Northwestern State soccer team's matchup with Stephen F. Austin on Friday is meaningful. It's a conference rival, it's the last match between the two as Southland Conference members, and it's a tilt at the top that will go long way in determining who'll win the regular-season conference crown. 

"It's not a difficult one to get excited about," said co-head coach Jess Jobe. "It does have a little added meaning with who the opponent is. You've got two teams that have a lot of momentum and a lot to play for, and it's going to be a fun match."

The game is slated for a 7 p.m. start at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex. NSU sits atop the Southland Conference standings with a 6-0-1 overall record and a 4-0-1 (13 points) mark in league play. SFA is positioned in a tie for second at 6-3-2 overall and 4-1 (12 points) in Southland Conference play. 

It's the last meeting as conference foes, but that's not the only bookmark in history at play Friday. The Lady Demons are off to their best start in program history. Their six-game shutout steak is a school record, and their seven-match unbeaten streak is the second-longest in school history. 

Jobe wants his team to feel a tremendous amount of pride with what they've accomplished but not lose sight of what has gotten them there.

"We want continue to make sure we are focusing on the things that have created the success," Jobe said. "One of those things is showing up every day and putting in the work. The win streak and shutout streak is fantastic, but it doesn't help us in the next game."

If NSU needed any more motivation for its Friday night showdown, it received a little extra fuel in its most recent match. Northwestern State tied Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 0-0 last Friday in its only game last week.

NSU had numerous opportunities for a breakthrough goal, but it didn't materialize. And in that disappointment, motivation and hunger grows. 

"We felt like we could have gotten more from the game, and we were really disappointed to not get three points," Jobe said. "It felt more like a loss than a tie at the end of it. We want to take that feeling in and continue to push forward. We'll use anything we can right now, and if that's ammunition to load up to look ahead to the next game and get fired up and get excited about it, then we absolutely will."

Junior Kalee Williams leads NSU offensively. She has netted a career-high four goals this season. 

Williams has received plenty of help, as well. Sophomore Olivia Draguicevich owns a pair of goals, while fellow sophomore Hallie Field and freshmen Cianne Talamo, Delaney Wells and Kyle Nolen have all netted one score apiece. 

Northwestern State junior goaltender Acelya Aydogmus continues to play at an extremely high level. She has not surrendered a goal in the last 629 minutes or, in other words, six and a half games. 

The Lady Jacks are led by Carli Arthurs who has found the back of the net six times. Katelyn Termini isn't far behind, scoring five goals to go alongside a team-high three assists. 

Stephen F. Austin has dominated the all-time series with Northwestern State, leading it 21-7-5. NSU snapped its 17-game losing streak to SFA last season with a 1-0 victory in Nacogdoches, as it represented the first win over the Lady Jacks since 2002. 

Whatever the history states, it won't matter come Friday when even more history — the last Southland Conference matchup between rivals — takes place. 

"We are really excited for the opportunity," Jobe said. "(SFA) has a new coach and is very well organized, and historically has had a lot of success. Last year, getting the losing streak off our backs was an amazing thing for that team. This year, it means a lot more with where we are right now and the goals we have this season." 

Following Friday night's match, Northwestern State will take to the road for a pivotal game at Lamar — the team tied with Stephen F. Austin for second place in the conference standings.