LAKE CHARLES – Second year head coach Drew Fitzgerald and the Cowgirls kicked off their 2017 season tonight playing host to the Lady Techsters of Louisiana Tech, falling 0-1.
 
The match began heavily weighing in favor of the Cowgirls, with McNeese outshooting Louisiana Tech 13-7. Senior midfielder Nola Prickett sent three shots into the box with one of those being on goal.
 
McNeese was given four corner kick opportunities in the first period, all of which were sent back onto the pitch by sophomore midfielder Rachel Palet. Both Nola Prickett and Savannah LaRicci were able to connect on kick and release a shot but neither were able to meet the back of the net.
 
McNeese ended the first period with back to back shots on goal by Sara Ortiz and Dayna Garcia, two of six shots on goal let off by the Cowgirl offense in the first forty-five.
 
"I was thoroughly impressed with how the team performed as a whole during the first half." Fitzgerald comments on the Cowgirls' ability to stay well organized and present good pressure for their first official outing as a team. "We could have used more strength and power in the second half."
 
The second half showed to be troublesome for McNeese, as its defense was unable to hinder the Louisiana Tech offense, resulting in four Cowgirl fouls and a yellow card for senior defender Gabi D'Alesandro in minute 80.
 
Only three minutes following the caution, Louisiana Tech's sophomore forward, Jenna Dages was able to get a header on a corner kick from teammate Gabrielle Parent and give the Lady Techsters a one goal lead. The Cowgirls were unable to turn the game and manage of a goal of their own and drop the first game of the season 0-1.
 
"Obviously the result is disappointing," Palet comments on the squads performance in tonight's loss. "Together as a team, we have grown a lot from last year. As a unit we have a lot more chemistry and our potential to succeed as a team has grown exponentially."
 
McNeese had six Cowgirls with two or more shots; Nola Prickett, Gabi D'Alesandro, and Havana Johnson each had two shots on goal as well. The team proved to have a fiery offense with nearly twice as many total shots as Louisiana Tech (21-11), ten of which were on goal, compared to the Lady Techsters five.
 
When asked about what she plans to focus on this upcoming week to prepare for the next match, Palet commented, "We play in a diamond and we will be working on making our transitions through the middle smoother… we need to be better with passing the ball, collecting it, transferring it to our forwards, and putting it in the back of the net."
 
This is the eighth time the two teams have met, and with tonight's defeat, the series becomes tied, with each team claiming four games apiece since the series began in 2004.
 
Next Friday at Cowgirl Field, McNeese will host the Ragin Cajuns of UL-Lafayette with the match slated to begin at 7:00PM, all home matches are free admission courtesy of American Press and can be watched live online at McNeeseSports.com.
 
DATE: 8/18/2017
TIME: 7:00 PM
SITE: Lake Charles, LA
STADIUM: Cowgirl Field
ATTENDANCE: 351

Scoring Summary
Time	Team	Description
83:25	LA TECH	DAGES, Jenna  Assisted By: PARENT, Gabrielle  Off A Corner Kick

Cautions and Ejections
Time	Team	Type	Player
80:27	MCN	YELLOW	#13 Dalesandro, Gabi