LAKE CHARLES – There will be plenty of bragging rights up for grabs Friday evening when the McNeese State soccer team battles in-state rival UL-Lafayette at Cowgirl Field in Lake Charles with kickoff set for a 7 p.m. start.
 
In conjunction with Youth Soccer Month, Friday's match will serve as one of the biggest and most intense contests of the home soccer schedule and will provide fans and students with a chance to have some fun with in-game promotions and receive special prizes. The first 100 students will be treated to free hot dogs courtesy of Big Daddy's Sports Bar and Grill while the first 20 fans will have a chance to win a pair of McNeese AEC socks. The Cowgirl soccer team will be throwing out prizes before the match and will sign autographs afterwards.
 
The McNeese Parapokes will make a special appearance at halftime of Friday night's contest. The Parapokes are a parachute team made up of McNeese supporters who skydive at every home football game as well as other athletic events throughout the year.
 
McNeese (3-1) will enter the game after completing one of the toughest stretches of contests in recent program history, having played four matches in a span of eight days. The Cowgirls scored three consecutive victories to open the season before dropping its first decision to a tough and talented Tulsa squad on Sunday.
 
Seniors Sarah Bricker and Lauren Sestak were honored as Southland Conference Players of the Week for their efforts on the field during the last week. Sestak continues to lead the league in goals against average and save percentage while Bricker has anchored a defense that has posted two shutouts and allowed only four goals through four matches.
 
Offensively, sophomore Gabi D'Alesandro leads the Cowgirls with two goals and an assist on the year followed by junior captain Bettina Brulhart who has two goals and leads the team with 12 shots this season. Sophomore Sierra Sisco has accounted for two assists while 10 total student-athletes have contributed at least one point.
 
UL-Lafayette (2-2) concludes its three-game road trip in Lake Charles on Friday after splitting a pair of matches last week. The Cajuns were downed by Ole Miss, 3-1, before earning a 2-1 victory over Southern Miss two days later. ULL began the season with a 1-0 loss to Sam Houston State before shutting out Nicholls, 2-0.
 
Kimberly Grasso leads with two goals on the season while Yazmin Montoya has recorded three assists. The Cajuns return eight starters from last season's squad and 25 total letterwinners.
 
Fans who are unable to attend Friday's match can follow the action by clicking on the Live Stats link under the soccer schedule on McNeeseSports.com
 
In addition, fans can also get in-game updates as well as behind the scenes coverage of the Cowgirls by following @McNeeseSoccer on Twitter and by liking the McNeese Sports page on Facebook.
 
Admission to all matches is free this season courtesy of the Lake Charles American Press.