LAKE CHARLES - The unofficial-official start of the McNeese Cowgirls 2021 soccer season is almost here with the Blue/Gold scrimmage set for Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Cowgirl Field.

The event is free and open to the public. 

Heading into the fall, head coach Drew Fitzgerald's outlook for the season is high as the team brings back a bevy of talent mixed with welcomed additions from the transfer portal. 

The team began practicing this week and they have already hit the field running, which is a welcomed site after an underwhelming spring season that featured a plethora of outside variables such as covid, injuries and the hurricanes.  

This Saturday's Blue/Gold scrimmage presents the first opportunity for the players to reap the benefits of the hard work they put in during the off-season. Fitzgerald knows that the work done over the summer is what sets the tone for a successful season. As the program looks to return to the winning ways, he reaffirms that there are no shortcuts, the standard has to be high. That standard has always been high as Fitzgerald's squads have been accustomed to winning a lot more than losing as he enters his sixth season at the helm. 

"We're only on day three right now but they've had a really good start," said associate head coach Nick Whiting. "They came back with a lot of energy." 

A primary reason for the good start being senior captains Emma Roccaforte and Alexis Miller while the rest of the returning Cowgirls are already making a huge impact in the limited time the team has been together. 

"The returners, we have six seniors that are coming back for their fifth year," said Whiting. "They love being a part of this program. They wanted to have that extra year so they all stayed and are all in graduate school now. They love McNeese and want to be here."
 
"They've shown great leadership so far. It's almost like having six extra coaches here. They've been through the program and they've been through everything and they have really helped the seven newcomers join and become part of the program right away."  

At the forefront, the team's two leading scorers from last year, Havana Johnson (11 points) and Magalie Depot (six points) are back as well as all-conference goalie Roccaforte. Transfers Cassandra Romero (LSU) and Kelsey Crosby (Seattle) also joined the team. 

As the team gets prepared for Saturday, it is more than just a scrimmage.  

"We are looking forward to playing the Blue/Gold scrimmage, playing 11 on 11 and just kind of seeing for the first time under the lights, hopefully have some fans out here for the first time in a while after having rules with covid last year," said Whiting. "It's an exciting time for them. These girls have worked so hard through everything, helping out after the hurricanes, etc. They deserve a fun season because time goes so fast. We're excited to really give them that."  

The Cowgirls will host Louisiana-Lafayette in an exhibition game on Aug. 13 before opening up the regular season on Aug. 19 at home against Jackson State.