SAN ANTONIO—After finding its footing in front of the home crowd, the Northwestern State soccer team takes its show on the road for three Southland Conference matches in a row, beginning with a trip to UIW on Sunday.

Kickoff is at noon at Gayle & Tom Benson Stadium.

"They are a really good team," head coach Ian Brophy said. "UIW will be one of the tougher tests we have had. Coming in off two really nice wins recently, we know they are coming in with some confidence.

"They are very strong defensively with a really good goalkeeper and work really hard to defend. The first goal will be huge, so if we are able to get that one, then that will be big time."

The Demons (5-4-1, 1-0) have won five matches in a row and are on a six-game unbeaten streak, having allowed a total of zero goals during that stretch.

The six consecutive shutouts are tied for the most in program history, equaling the total from 2021, which is also the last time Northwestern State won the regular season and tournament titles.

"We've been really locked into our tactics," Madison Murphy said. "We're just focusing on making sure we do everything we can to make sure they don't put the ball in the back of the net.

"I think it starts in the front all the way to the back. The forwards are tracking back and making sure the defenders don't have to work as hard. It's just a whole team effort."

That shutout streak helped earn Alina Graf the SLC Defensive Player of the Week, as Northwestern surrendered just five shots, none of which were on goal, in a 2-0 victory at the Demon Soccer Complex against Nicholls this past Sunday.

"We are really lucky to have Alina," Brophy said. "We're in a great position to have a defender like that who can play out of the back like that. She is so composed on the ball and that is something that is hard to teach. You have to have it in you from a young age. That defensive intensity and solidity that she brings and that partnership with Jess (Spitzer)."

Graf's weekly award comes after the Demons collected three consecutive goalkeeper of the week honors, two of which were by Libe Banuelos.

Even though she has played only a season and a half in Natchitoches, Banuelos' seven solo shutouts are tied for eighth in program history, sharing eighth with Krystle Donaldson (2003-06).

While the defense grabs most of the headlines, the offense has been on a scoring surge. During the five game-winning streak, the Demons have found the back of the net 16 times, an average of more than three goals per game.

Isabella Ruggiano and Emily Senatore each have three goals to lead the team, just one behind the leader in 2023, Taylor Spitzer, who scored four.

In the first 10 games, Northwestern State has nine different goal scorers and 16 different players have accumulated points, which is already more in each category than last year when seven players scored goals and 15 players recorded at least one point.

"We have a lot of depth in the attacking area," Brophy said. "Maybe last year, that talent hadn't developed yet. Bella (Ruggiano) is a good example of someone who was on the team last year, but from last year to this year, her impact has exploded."

Strong offensive and defensive outputs in the five wins have the Demons just one win shy of matching the 2023 win total already.

UIW (3-4-1, 0-1) has had a strong start to the season behind second-year head coach Jake Plant. Against a strong Grand Canyon team on the road, UIW received nine saves from sophomore goalkeeper Erica Defferding to pick up the big road win in Arizona.

"We need to play our game and do what we do best," Dawson Marrs said. "We know they are a really good team and it should be a great game, but I think we can do it."

However, in its first conference game, UIW lost a 1-0 home contest against Southeastern Louisiana.

Following the match, the Demons continue their string of three consecutive matches on the road with a pair of games in southern Louisiana on Oct. 4 against McNeese before finishing the road trip and weekend at Southeastern Louisiana on Oct. 6.

They return to Natchitoches on Oct. 11 against Houston Christian for the annual Fork Cancer game.