LAKE CHARLES – After weeks of preparation and hard work, the wait is finally over! The McNeese women's soccer team officially opens up the 2017 season Friday evening when it defends it's home field against the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters at 7 p.m.
 
The Cowgirls have spent the last two weeks preparing for their season opener by battling through the summer heat along with a pesky weather system that dumped torrential amounts of rain across Louisiana. However, second year head coach Drew Fitzgerald is excited about the mindset of the McNeese squad, who was able to squeeze in an exhibition match against Texas Southern earlier this month, shutting out the tigers with three goals.

"We are really happy to see the energy and effort from the players, but there is still a ways to go before the group achieves true cohesiveness." Fitzgerald seems content with where the team stands at this point. "The next step is getting them to work together and finding out where everyone will play and what their roll will be on game day," Fitzgerald commented.
  
McNeese returns eight starters and 18 letterwinners along with 85 percent of its scoring from last year's team. Seniors Savannah LaRicci and Kayla Goedicke led the Cowgirls last season with a combined 15 goals and 38 points, both are returning this season with the intentions of achieving even greater success.
 
Fitzgerald and his assistant coaches Nick Whiting and new addition Kaitlyn Collin are all pleased with the progress the girls have made during the offseason and during fall camp. The group will be looking to find their groove during these non-conference matches in order to prepare for their conference opener on September 15 when they stand up against Southeastern at home.

Louisiana Tech (0-0) will be opening up their regular season as well on the road, here in Lake Charles. The Lady Techsters returns six starters and 20 letterwinners from a 2016 squad that finished 14-6-1. 11^th year head coach Kevin Sherry also welcomes 12 newcomers to his team this season.

McNeese owns the overall series against Louisiana Tech with a 4-3 mark in the series that dates back to the 2004 season. Friday's match will mark the eighth time the two programs have met. LA Tech defeated the Cowgirls in 2004, 2011 and 2013 while McNeese took down Louisiana Tech in 2007,2010, 2012, and 2016.  Last seasons win was a 2-1 victory, with goals from graduated Cowgirl Bettina Brulhart and returning forward Nola Prickett.
 
Since the series started in 2004, the Cowgirls have outscored the Lady Techsters 11-10. Louisiana Tech has never won a match in Lake Charles.

Friday's match will be streamed live on McNeeseSports.com while fans can also follow @McNeeseSoccer on Twitter for live in-game updates.
 
McNeese will play host again next week against the Ragin Cajuns of UL-Lafayette, Friday, August 25 at 7PM.