LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese State women's soccer team will look to climb back into the win column Friday afternoon as the Cowgirls make the trip deep into the bayou to face Nicholls at 4 p.m. in a rematch from last year's Southland Conference Tournament first round game.
McNeese (4-7, 1-4 SLC) was ousted from last season's tournament at the hands of the Colonels (3-7-1, 1-4 SLC) after a strong finish in the regular season. The in-state rivalry has accounted for classic matches throughout the past few seasons with the squads splitting the last four meetings.
The Cowgirls survived a high scoring affair during last season's regular season contest with Nicholls, taking 3-2 decision, in Lake Charles. The Colonels scored a 3-0 win in the last meeting that took place in Thibodaux.
McNeese has endured four straight overtime contests during league play and has come out on the rough side of the results, having won only one match in overtime at Northwestern State. The Cowgirls dropped a pair of heartbreakers at home last weekend to Sam Houston State (2-1, 2OT) and Stephen F. Austin (2-1, OT).
Junior
Bettina Brulhart and freshman
Sara Ortiz have each scored four points since the beginning of SLC action. Ortiz leads the team with two goals in conference games only while Brulhart has a goal and two assists. Sophomore
Gabi D'Alesandro leads the team with 13 shots taken in league play.
Nicholls has one just one match out of the last five and split a pair of league matches last weekend with a 2-1 victory at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi before falling to defending conference tournament champions Houston Baptist 3-1.
The Colonels are led by all-conference honoree Spencer Valdespino who paces the offense with seven goals and 46 shots taken on the season. She has collected two-game winners while Hannah Savoie has recorded two goals, an assist and a game-winning shot.
McNeese leads the overall series against Nicholls with a 19-4-2 mark in the series that dates back to 1998.
The Cowgirls will rest on Sunday before making a return to conference play at home against Incarnate Word on Friday, Oct. 16 and Abilene Christian on Sunday, Oct. 18.
