JONESBORO, Ark.—In game one, Northwestern State's offense was as good as it could have hoped, scoring four games in a decisive road victory.

NSU (1-0) aims to build on that performance when it travels to Arkansas State for a Thursday contest at the Arkansas State Soccer Park. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ at 2 p.m.

In the overall series, NSU holds a 2-0 edge, but the two teams have not met since a 2-0 Northwestern State win in 2005. It also recorded a 1-0 victory in 2002.

Paige Armstrong had a debut to remember in the opener against Louisiana Tech, scoring one goal and dished out one assist for a total of three points, the most points scored in a debut by a freshman since Gabriella Gamboa recorded a hat trick in a 12-0 win over LSU-Shreveport in 2017.

The freshman began the game on the right foot, literally and figuratively, booting home a shot off a corner kick before recording an assist on a pass to Nicole Henry to give NSU a 2-0 lead early.

NSU has created significant chances in their regular season opener and exhibition game, combining to attempt 39 in the two games.

"I think it is our game plan and playing the way we're facing," freshman Taylor Spitzer said when talking about creating shot attempts and scoring chances. "We're looking for the open player instead of taking stupid shots from anywhere on the field."

One of the four goals from Northwestern State in the opener came off the foot of Olivia Draguicevich, who continues to climb up the leaderboard in the NSU record book.

She has 25 career goals, 10 behind Britiany Cargill for the top spot and her 55 points is just three points from cracking the top five, as Hillarie Marshall and Chelsey Gibbs are tied for fifth with 58 career points.

In addition to Armstrong, Nicole Henry and Draguicevich scoring, Natalee Henry was the other goal scorer, continuing her strong play after a 14-point season in 2021.

Chloe DeShazer earned the start at goalkeeper for NSU, stopping three shots of the four shots she faced after not allowing any goals in the exhibition victory over Little Rock.

Ahead of her is a strong defense who has helped surrender 14 shots and just six on goal in the first regular season game against Louisiana Tech and exhibition contest against Little Rock.

"I think the biggest thing that us midfielders do to help the defenders is communicate," junior Delaney Wells said. "We work really well together and we've been working on our shape and how to defend properly and I think that is what is helping us and we're just showing out and playing well together."

Arkansas State (1-1) is coming off a 3-0 triumph over Central Arkansas. Sydoney Clarke leads the team in scoring, having recorded a goal and an assist in the victory. Sarah Strong and Tara Lea also tallied goals in the shutout win.

In the victory, Red Wolves coach Brian Dooley won his 250^th career game.

"Brian Dooley is a really good coach," NSU soccer coach Stuart Gore said. "He's a great recruiter and has a done a great job over there. He took over a program that was in the hole and has turned them into Sun Belt contenders.

"They play hard. They want to win everything. I fully expect it to be a battle."

NSU continues its four-game road trip to start the season with a trip to SMU on Sunday at 7 p.m. Its first home game comes against Jackson State on Sept. 9 before conference play begins.