EDINBURG, Texas — A challenging non-conference schedule has prepared the Northwestern State soccer team for Southland Conference play, which begins tonight on the road against UTRGV.
NSU (4-2-2) visits Edinburg for the first time in program history, opening the league slate against the conference’s newest member. Kickoff is at 6:30. The context can be seen on ESPN+.
Despite having a losing record (3-4-1), the Vaqueros put a scare into Houston, losing 1-0 on the road to the same team that crushed Texas 4-1 earlier this season. NSU toppled Texas 3-2 in the season opener.
“They are a really unique team,” Northwestern coach Ian Brophy said. “They play a lot of different ways, so I am excited to see how they come out. They are really exciting and have played really well in the lead-up to this. They look tough, just like every conference game this year.
“I think every team in the conference is good, so it’s just about if we can show up and play our best soccer and we should be able to come out with three points, hopefully.”
The Demons have had success in conference openers, having won six in a row and are 14-9-5 in program history.
In last year’s opener, NSU scored in the 14th minute and carried that to a 2-0 win against Nicholls.
“Getting off to a strong start is important if you want to have a good conference campaign and be there competing at the end,” Brophy said. “I have always said you’re not going to be able to win the conference title in the first few games, but you might lose it. It is always good to get a good start in terms of what we want to accomplish later in the season.”
The two teams met for the first time ever last season in Natchitoches, a 3-1 NSU victory over UTRGV. Emily Senatore and Paige Baumgartner each scored, and Emma Pethel recorded two assists for the Demons.
Senatore aims to back up her 2024 first team all-conference selection with another one. She enters league play tied for second in the conference in both goals and points.
NSU is coming off a 1-0 loss at Abilene Christian a week ago.
Following the match, it doesn’t get any easier for the Demons, as they head home for the first conference game in front of the friendly fans Sunday afternoon at 1 against reigning regular season and tournament champion Stephen F. Austin.