HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana women's soccer team will look to remain unbeaten following its trip to Arkansas for a pair of matches.

The Lady Lions (3-0-1) will open the trip at Arkansas-Little Rock (3-4-1), facing the Trojans at 7 p.m. on Friday. From there, Southeastern will travel to Jonesboro, Ark. for a 1 p.m. contest with Arkansas State (3-3) on Sunday.

Southeastern remained undefeated on Tuesday, battling past William Carey, 1-0. Senior forward Kristin McDonald scored a goal late in the first half and provided the winning score for the Lady Lions. A strong defensive effort and four saves by freshman Lacey Bockhaus, who finished with four saves, helped Southeastern to its third shutout of the season.

Through four matches, Southeastern has out-scored its opponents, 18-2. In the latest NCAA statistical rankings released Tuesday, Southeastern was atop the nation in scoring offense.

The offense has been led by McDonald, who has scored a team-high four goals and nine points this season. Junior midfielder Dana Mayer follows with three goals, while junior midfielders Candice Wallace and Jenna Oney have scored two goals each. Wallace, Oney and sophomore midfielder Natalie Santana share the team lead with two assists apiece.

Several Lady Lions are making their way up the program's career scoring list. Wallace, with 14 career goals, ranks eighth in school history, while McDonald's 12 career scores puts her in a tie for 10th with former Lady Lion Lindsey Dyck. Mayer and senior forward Janae Sheldon each have 10 career goals and are within striking distance of the top 10.

While the offense has been explosive, the defensive effort has been just as sound. Southeastern has led the Southland Conference in goals allowed in each of the past two seasons and appears in midseason form. The defensive backfield of junior Shalayne Heffner, sophomore Brittany Prieto, senior Sarah Cheung and sophomore Nicole Brannigan have allowed only two goals and 24 shot attempts in the first four matches.

Bockhaus has excelled as Southeastern's last line of defense in her first collegiate season. The San Leandro, Calif. product has a goals against average of 0.47 and three shutouts this season.

Arkansas-Little Rock awaits Southeastern on Friday and is unbeaten in its last three matches. Thus far this season, the Trojans have wins over Mississippi State (2-1), Centenary (2-1) and Lipscomb (5-0), while dropping decisions to Memphis (2-0), Missouri State (2-0), Southern Miss (1-0) and Miami (3-0) and tying Southeastern's SLC rival Northwestern State, 3-3.

UALR is led offensively by Grace Rich and her team-best five goals. Rich and Danielle Dunsworth are tied for the team lead with two assists each. Jane Picarelli has a 1.57 goals against average for the Trojans.

Friday will be the sixth meeting between Southeastern and UALR with the Lady Lions holding a 3-1-1 advantage. Southeastern won the most recent meeting, 1-0, in 2006, as Wallace – then a freshman – netted the game-winning goal late in the second half.

On Sunday, Arkansas State will be looking to end a three-match losing streak. The Red Wolves opened the season with victories over Central Arkansas (5-2), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (7-0) and Centenary (3-2), before enduring losses to Stephen F. Austin (3-1), Oral Roberts (3-2) and Tulsa (4-0).

Kara Nitti and Sofia Turreson share the team lead with five goals each, while Megan Stolzfus paces the squad with three assists. Stolzfus (1.60 GAA) and Sara Krimm (2.86 GAA) have split time in the net for ASU.

Southeastern is 1-0 all-time versus Arkansas State, defeating the Red Wolves, 2-0, last season. Prieto and junior forward Gloria Burkhart provided the scores in last season's win.

Following the trip to Arkansas, Southeastern will return home to host Prairie View on Friday, Sept. 26 at 4:30 p.m. at the Southeastern Soccer Complex.