LAKE CHARLES- McNeese's Delana Friesen broke the silence in the 51^st minute when she scored the only goal of the game to lift the McNeese Cowgirls (5-3-0, 1-0-0)) to a 1-0 win over Southeastern Louisiana (1-6-1, 0-1-0) on Sunday in the Pokes conference opener.
 
Friesen's game winner was her third goal of the 2019 season. Friesen recorded only one assist in her freshman season last year. The sophomore forward is second on the team in shots (15) and shots on goal (7). Anna Watson leads the team with 16 shots and 11 shots on goal.
 
Goalkeeper Emma Roccaforte mad her second appearance of the 2019 season after returning from an injury last Sunday at Texas State. The junior picked up the win in goal after recording her second straight shutout.
 
Both defenses were strong in the first half hold one another to 0-0 at half. The Cowgirls put up ten shots in the first half, five of which were on goal and saved by SLU goalkeeper Nadine Maher. The Pokes held the Lady Lions to only two shots and allowed one corner in the first half.
 
In the second half, the Cowgirls held a 9-2 advantage in shots, one of those nine would be the deciding goal in Sunday's contest. Maher would go on to finish with ten saves on the night, five in each half.
 
The Cowgirls finished with 19 shots to Southeastern's four while Roccaforte recorded her second shutout.
 
McNeese (5-3) will play at Central Arkansas (1-6-1) to continue conference play on Friday at 7 p.m. The Pokes look to improve their three-match winning streak to four this weekend.
 
Match Notes:
• Junior Emma Roccaforte is still yet to allow any goals in the 2019 season.
•Friesen picked up her third goal of the year.
• Palet earned her first assist of the season.
 
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH DREW FITZGERALD
"Very happy with our performance, I thought we played with energy and enthusiasm which we had been lacking a bit. I think SLU will have a good year and was what we expected; however, we controlled the game the way we wanted to."
 
QUOTING SOPHOMORE DELANA FRIESEN
"I'm pretty ecstatic, it was exciting to pick up a goal and get a winning result as a team. It's so awesome to have them both playing again and have a sense of security knowing that they are back there."