NATCHITOCHES-There's no place like home.

For the first time in the regular season, the Northwestern State (0-4) soccer team plays in front of the home crowd after four straight matches away from Natchitoches.

The opponent is a familiar one, former Southland Conference member Abilene Christian (1-0-2).

"They have had a really strong start to the season," head coach Ian Brophy said. "Even in the tie against Lamar, Abilene Christian kind of controlled the action in the game. They are a really good team and we will need to play really well in order to get a win."

Kickoff is at noon Sunday at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex.

The match is being televised on ESPN+ with Adam Hester on the call and he will be joined by former NSU soccer player Emme' Fernandez.

The match is the first of a string of five of the next six matches at home, including the conference opener against Nicholls.

Several members of NSU are playing in their final first home game at the Soccer Complex, and are looking forward to it after playing on the road for the first four contests.

"I am really excited to be finally playing at home," Sabrina Lopez said. "Obviously, I am really sad that it is my last first home game, but I am honestly more excited and I think it will be really good and I think we will show everyone what we've been working on this preseason and during practice. It will be really good."

In addition to the veterans, nine freshmen are playing in their first career collegiate home game.

"It is really exciting to play in front of the home crowd," Tiana Cruz said. "It will be great to play in front of our family and friends and seeing other NSU teams here supporting us."

Not only is it the first home contest of the season, but also Bark at the Park, so fans can bring their canine friends and enjoy the game.

The Lady Demons have historically had success in home openers. While NSU lost 2-1 in the home opener to Rice last season, NSU is 17-10-1 overall in home openers.

Despite losing the home opener a year ago, NSU rebounded to win five of its final six home contests to go 5-2 at home in 2023.

The last time NSU finished with a losing record at home was 2017.

NSU is aiming to score its first goal of the season. In the last game at UL Lafayette, the Lady Demons were able to generate opportunities but could not find the back of the net yet.

Last season, Caitlin Le Roux scored NSU's first goal of 2023 in the home opener against Rice.

Libe Banuelos has recorded 29 saves, the second most on the Southland Conference.

ACU is coming off its first victory of the season on the road against another SLC opponent, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, winning 2-1 after scoring two goals in the first 20 minutes.

In its first two games, the Wildcats posted scoreless ties at home against both UTEP and Lamar. ACU has out-shot all three of its opponents so far.

NSU is back at home Friday when it welcomes Jackson State to the Soccer Complex. Three of the final four games in non-conference play for NSU are against members of the SWAC.