LAKE CHARLES—McNeese soccer could have used some of its injured players here Friday night in its 1-0 Southland Conference loss to Houston Christian.
 
Playing with several injured players and starters, McNeese struggled to come back from an early Houston Christian (4-7-3, 4-3-1 SLC) lead from a goal in the 21^st minute off the foot of Katie Marker.
 
McNeese (4-6-4, 2-3-4) had several opportunities to tie the game but couldn't put the equalizer in the back of the net with the last real attempt to score coming from Rachel Young in the 77^th minute but her shot was deflected by HCU's goalie, Chloe Bagshaw for her fourth save of the game.
 
HCU attempted one more shot than the Cowgirls (11-10) and attempted five corner kicks to the Cowgirls' two.  McNeese goalie Jackie Kelly was credited with five saves.
 
Dominika Ducal and Matilde Tesgaard led the Cowgirls with two shots apiece while HCU was led by Talin Rizo and Ryan Ford who also attempted two shots on the night.
 
McNeese will conclude its home slate in a 1 p.m. game against Incarnate Word on Senior Day. Seniors Kelly Hines, Megan Mielke, Abbi Morrell, Kambrie McFarland, Jillian Bech, Martine Ellefsen, Brooke Mallory, Carrie Kotoucek, and AnnMarie Snead will be honored following the match.