LAKE CHARLES- McNeese soccer gave up two first half goals Friday night in a 2-0 Southland Conference loss to Incarnate Word. The Cowgirl's second half efforts wouldn't be enough to come back after UIW held onto the lead and held the Cowgirls scoreless. 
 
 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE
The loss marks the second home and conference loss for the Pokes this season. McNeese drops to 9-5-0 overall and 5-2 in the SLC while the Cardinals clinch a SLC Tournament spot for the first time in program history and improve to 7-7-0 overall and 6-1-0 in league play.
 
McNeese, UIW, and Lamar were all tied for first place in the SLC heading into the weekend.  McNeese will host Abilene Christian at 1 p.m. Sunday in its home finale. Seniors Alexis Rodriguez, Rebecca Adcock, Juan Suppan, and Rachel Palet will be honored following the game. McNeese will look to give ACU its second loss of the weekend after the Wildcats dropped a 6-4 decision at Lamar Friday night.
 
 
1^ST HALF
The Pokes entered halftime trailing after a pair of goals from Brooke Hanson and Hannah Walsh. Within the first ten minutes of the half the Cardinals put up three shots as McNeese only had one.
 
9' – In the ninth minute UIW forward Brooke Hanson scored from just outside the box on a right footed volley, that would skim right past Cowgirl goalkeeper, Emma Roccaforte.
 
17' – Eight minutes later Hanson would go on to find herself in the corner where she then dribbled down the inline and assisted Cardinal midfielder Hannah Walsh. Walsh finished the ball on the ground into the corner.
 
 
2^ND HALF
McNeese came out strong in the second half only allowing three shots and while kepping UIW scoreless. The McNeese defense kept the fast Cardinal wingers outside of the box and force unwanted shots. The Cowgirls kept their foot on the gas and were able to get six shot off of their own. Despite being down by two, McNeese persevered and every Cowgirl on the field played until the very last second.
 
 
MATCH NOTES
• The Pokes were led by Havana Johnson and Rachel Palet who each had three shots on the night.
 
• Sophomore Gabrielle Christy started in goal in the second half after Roccaforte was unable to return due to injury. During her time in the net Christy earned two saves and didn't allow a goal.
 
• McNeese will look to break its two-game losing streak on Sunday as they take on the 2018 conference champions, who knocked the Cowgirls out of the conference tournament last year.
 
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH DREW FITZGERALD
"UIW showed up and out hustled us and they deserved to win tonight. In the second half we changed our formation and added intensity however, we still weren't dangerous enough, but we kept them from being dangerous. I think the effort and lack of quit is what this team is all about and we are proud of them for that."