LAKE CHARLES- Captain goalkeeper Emma Roccaforte put forth a spectacular performance as she secured a McNeese Cowgirls (1-0-0) 3-0 shut-out against Jackson State (0-1-0) to open up the season.

With that being said, 24 Cowgirls saw the field and each had an impact in a true team performance in which all facets of the game were complemented by each other. 

First Half:
Both McNeese and JSU came out of the gate feeling each other out as you would expect in a season opener. There was a lot of back and forth early, as a physical match was evident.

Rachel Young was the first Cowgirl to check in and immediately added an element of grittiness to the pitch. 

The contest was evenly matched through the first 30 minutes, with perhaps momentum favoring the Tigers, as they won the time of possession 55-45% in the first half. McNeese was on the attack for a lot of the half but could not convert in the offensive zone.

That quickly changed, as Keely Morrow connected on a header from Kiana Kukaua's corner kick with 10 minutes left in the first half. Five minutes later, captain Alexis Miller sent in an absolute missile from deep on a free kick that hit off the crossbar to give the Cowgirls a 2-0 lead heading into the half. 

Second Half:
The Cowgirls spent most of the half in the attacking field and they maintained control throughout. 

With just under 15' to go, Megan Mielke found the back of the net on a fast break goal that was assisted by Havana Johnson's excellent pass. 

Emma Roccaforte made her final highlight reel save by leaping across the net to block JSU's free-kick attempt at the nine-minute mark.  

Head Coach Drew Fitzgerald's Comments:
"I thought Jackson State played a really good game, they out-played us for the first 30 minutes of the game and our subs came in and turned things around for us. Credit to Jackson State they came out hard and physical which makes us better. I thought the second half was a lot better for us."

Notables:
Freshman Morgan Schooley (starter), Kiley Jones, and Karissa Illingworth each saw their first collegiate action for the Pokes.

Senior Havana Johnson tallied four shots on goal. 

The Cowgirls held a 7-3 corner kick advantage.

Emma Roccaforte extends her Cowgirl records (24th Win, 17th Shutout)

Next Match:
"Sweet Sunday" Match against Houston - 6 PM - Cowgirl Field - August 22