LAKE CHARLES – Head coach Drew Fitzgerald and the Cowgirl soccer team are only two contests away from its second consecutive tournament appearance, as they travel to Houston Baptist on Sunday for the second to last match of the regular season.
 
McNeese (12-3-1, 8-1) travels to Houston Baptist (6-6-2, 5-3-1) after a big Friday night win at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Both teams have secured their spots in 2017 SLC Tournament with only two games remaining.
 
The 2-0 shutout victory was the Cowgirl's 12^th of the season, the most in program history. McNeese has only had one other 12 win season, which was in 2007- the last and only time the team has been awarded Southland Conference Co-Champions. 2017 is the first time in program history that McNeese secured at least eight conference wins.
 
Houston Baptist, the defending Southland tournament champions, are rolling into the final games of the 2017 season with momentum and a winning conference record.
 
The Huskies are looking for their first conference win at home since October 6^th, after losing back-to-back matches against Central Arkansas and Lamar.
 
Houston Baptist currently leads the Southland Conference with 103 saves- but will be pressured by the McNeese defense, which ranks amongst the best in the nation.
 
Huskie senior, Ellee Hall leads Houston Baptist with eight goals, while junior forward Sabriah Spencer leads in assists (4) and shots on goal (15).
 
McNeese and Houston Baptist have been playing since 2008, with the series weighing in favor of the Huskies (3-4-2). During the most recent meeting, the Cowgirls brought down the Huskies 2-1 in overtime in Lake Charles.
 
Seniors Savannah LaRicci and Kayla Goedicke tag-teamed the 2016 win, with Goedicke scoring in the 67^th minute and LaRicci with the game-winner in the 4^th minute of overtime.
 
"Houston Baptist has a great defense and the ability to create goals in multiple ways. It is always a battle when we play them and I expect nothing different Sunday," Fitzgerald said.

Fans can keep up with McNeese soccer on Twitter at @McNeeseSoccer.
 
Live stats for Sunday's game will be available at:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/hbu/wsoc/
 
Live stream for Sunday's game will be available (weather permitting) at:
http://hbuhuskies.com/sports/2015/9/1/GEN_0901154305.aspx