LAKE CHARLES—The Northwestern State soccer team wraps up a stretch of three consecutive road games with an in-state trip to McNeese in a Southland Conference match Friday at Cowgirl Field.

The match begins at 7 p.m.

NSU (4-9 overall, 2-4 SLC) aims to snap a four-match losing streak, one in which the team was in every single contest.

One of those losses came on the home turf to these same Cowgirls, a 2-0 defeat on Sept. 29, as McNeese (6-5-2, 3-1-1) scored two goals in the final six minutes to turn a scoreless tie into a two-goal victory for the Cowgirls.

"We know what we're up against when playing McNeese," first-year head coach Ian Brophy said. "While it makes it a little easier to prepare since we've already played them, but that doesn't make it much easier for the game because they're a very good team and they'll be organized and we know what to expect. We know we're in for a tough game."

That McNeese win evened the overall series at 17-17-6. NSU is 9-7-2 in Lake Charles all-time. Taylor Spitzer scored a late goal in the last matchup in Lake Charles to salvage a 1-1 tie.

Despite the two losses, NSU goalkeeper Libe Banuelos had a stellar weekend, stopping 23 shots in the two games, including a career-high 14 at Lamar. That save total not only was a career high but tied for the fifth-most saves in a single game in school history.

"Libe had a phenomenal weekend," Brophy said. "She kept us in that Houston Christian game specifically. In that first half, she pulled off some incredible saves that kept us in the game. That was really important. She's been fantastic for us all year long. If anything, I would like her a little less busy."

With one more solo shutout, Banuelos cracks the top 10 for solo shutouts in a career with four, tying three former Lady Demon keepers. With two more shutouts, Banuelos cracks the top 10 for single season shutouts with five, tying her Nellie Latiolais (2002) and Tiffany Swingler (1999). Banuelos also leads the conference in saves with 57.

Defensively, the Lady Demons are led by Jessica Spitzer, who has played every minute of every game this season after only playing 76 minutes during the 2022 campaign as a freshman.

When training in the offseason, she knew playing behind some of the best defenders in program history would be a major benefit.

"In the offseason, I worked on stuff that I wasn't necessarily as good at," Spitzer said. "I feel like I was good last year as I am this year, but I have more confidence now because I get more minutes. I just worked on playing quicker and building my own strengths up a bit more as well."

When the defense has surrendered fewer than two goals in a game, NSU is 4-1, with the lone loss coming at Lamar. All four of the wins have come via a shutout.

Taylor Spitzer leads the offense, scoring a team-high four goals, two of which have come in league play. Emme' Fernandez, who scored the goal against Texas A&M-Commerce, has scored two goals, as has Sabrina Lopez.

McNeese dropped its last match 2-1 at home against Lamar, its first loss in league play, snapping a three-match winning streak.

Following the contest, the Lady Demons come back home for two straight matches, beginning Sunday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.