LAKE CHARLES—Confidence is high for the Northwestern State soccer team, as it takes a six-match winning streak into an in-state road battle with McNeese.

The Demons (6-4-1, 2-0) surrendered their first and only goal in the entire month of September last time out at UIW, but an Emily Senatore goal in the 89^th minute gave Northwestern State a 2-1 road win.

Friday's match in Lake Charles kicks off at 7 p.m. and is being streamed on ESPN+.

Senatore's game-winning goal is her team-best fourth tally of the season, while Isabella Ruggiano assisted on both goals. Ruggiano has recorded three points and four assists for 10 points this season, already registering more points than anyone did in 2023, which was led by Taylor Spitzer's nine.

As a team, the Demons have found the back of the net 18 times, already surpassing the 17 times they did in 2023. They also didn't score their fourth goal in conference play until game six a season ago.

"The improvement of certain people from last year is a big reason why the offense has taken off," Senatore said. "Also, the new people Coach Ian has brought in have been really good. We're working together a lot more this year, whereas last year we kind of struggled a little bit with connecting with each other. This year, we work on it every day at practice and it is finally coming together."

The victory against UIW was the first win for the Demons when surrendering a goal after the first five triumphs of the season came via a shutout.

Redshirt sophomore defender Annie Stook knows how important it is to keep the confidence even if a goal is scored on them.

"We've shown great improvement," she said. "Even when they score, we all rally around each other and know the offense can get the result right back."

Northwestern State goes up against a team it could not crack last season in McNeese (3-8-1, 0-2-1). In two games against the Cowgirls, the Demons were outscored 4-0, despite out-shooting McNeese 18-13 combined in the two games.

"We need to approach this game the same way we do against any other team," head coach Brophy said. "We're both different teams than we were last year, so I wouldn't read too much into the results from last year. We've been building toward this and now we're a team that we feel really confident about. I am sure they are trying new things as well, so they don't play the same way they did last year."

While McNeese has struggled on the road, at home has been a different story. Away from Lake Charles, the Cowgirls have compiled an 0-6-1 record, being outscored 18-3. At home, the Cowgirls are 3-2, having outscored opponents 11-5.

It is also the first SLC home game for them after beginning league play with three straight matches on the road.

Defensively, the goal scored by UIW against the Demons defense was the first time an opponent has found the back of the net since late August in a 1-0 loss at UL Lafayette.

The goal, scored with two seconds left in the first half, was the first and only time a team found the back of the net against Northwestern State in the month of September.

"That goal that UIW scored at the end of the half was a little bit of a gut punch," Brophy said. "But we had to come out of the locker room with a fire wanting to improve on that. We pushed so hard to get a goal in the second half, which shows how resilient we are and how willing to fight we are."

Still, the Demons have out-scored opponents 18-2 ever since surrendering the first 17 goals. The back line of Alina Graf, Jessica Spitzer, Emma Pethel and Caroline Hilliard have started 10 of the 11 games together, and midfielder Madison Murphy was a defender in her first two seasons.

Goalkeeper Libe Banuelos has been lights out for the Demons, including making two brilliant saves to keep the game tied, at the time, last game at UIW. She has made six saves so far and has posted three solo shutouts.

Following the match, the Demons round out the weekend by traveling to Southeastern Louisiana to cap the stretch of three consecutive matches on the road. The team is next playing in front of the home fans Oct. 11 against Houston Christian.