By: Jonathon Zenk, Assistant Director of Communications


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NATCHITOCHES—Through six games, it is difficult to tell whether the offense or defense has been better for Northwestern State.

NSU (4-1-1) has scored 16 goals so far this season through six games. It didn’t reach 16 goals until game 10 of last season.

On the other side, the defense has surrendered just one goal in the last four contests, going unbeaten in that streak (3-0-1).

Both sides need to be at their best when NSU welcomes UL Lafayette (3-3) to the Demon Soccer Complex for a Sunday tilt.

Kickoff is at 6 p.m. and can be viewed on ESPN+ if fans are unable to attend.

“Last year, the margins were really tight against them, and this year will be no different,” head coach Ian Brophy said. “We know it is going to be a really close game, and they are going to fight very hard.

“We need to come out and play our best soccer and if we can come out and play our soccer and play the way the way we know how, I think we can win the game.”

The offense has scored 13 goals in the past three contests and has scored at least three goals in four of the first six games, the first time it has accomplished that feat since 2018.

In the Southland Conference rankings, Emily Senatore leads in both goals (5) and points (11), while Riley Stern leads in assists (4).

There is a significant amount of chemistry on the team, and it shows both on the field and off.

“Honestly, this is one of the closest seasons we’ve had, within everyone,” junior forward Emily Gundin said. “I think coming in during the preseason, we’ve done a lot of team bonding. We have a great culture on this team, and you can definitely see it on the field. Everything we do off the field helps us on the field.”

While Senatore leads the conference in both goals and points, her teammate, Hosane Soukou, isn’t far behind.

The freshman is tied for second in both goals (4) and points (9).

Both Senatore and Soukou found the back of the net in Thursday’s victory over Grambling, the fourth game the pairing has both scored in.

Senatore recorded her third game-winning goal of the season and sixth in her career. Her six game-winning goals are tied for sixth in school history.

Defensively, the Demons have stood tall, no matter who is in net.

This past Thursday, it was Audrey Marfia, who stopped five shots in a shutout victory.

Marfia is the first freshman goalkeeper to pick up a win for NSU since Sydney Normand in 2018. She is also the first freshman to post a shutout since Alex Latham in 2014.

ULL has played three SLC opponents already—Lamar, McNeese and UTRGV—and has gone 3-0, outscoring those opponents 9-1.

Salma Elhaimer has five points to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns and is one of three players on the team to have multiple goals.

This season, UL Lafayette has won using a tenacious defense, one that NSU faced last season and recorded just two shot attempts and zero goals in a 1-0 Ragin’ Cajuns victory in Lafayette.

In net is Natalie Mayes, who has surrendered just six goals in six games and allowed more than one goal just twice this season.

Following the match, NSU makes the trek to play Abilene Christian on the road Thursday before starting SLC play Sept. 18 at UTRGV.