LAKE CHARLES—McNeese women's soccer will open its 2022 season this Friday, August 19 in a 7 p.m. game against Sam Houston at Cowgirl Field. All home games will be streamed on Cowboy Insider (paid subscription) and admission is free. The Cowgirls will conclude their opening weekend with a 6 p.m. game at Texas A&M on Sunday in a game that can be seen on SECN+.
 
McNeese returns 18 players from a 2021 team that tied the program record for wins (13-5-2) and placed second in the conference with a 9-2-1 record.
 
PROMOTION: Welcome Back and Food Truck (Gary's Grub Hub) Friday
 
Series Record
Sam Houston
•- SH holds a 12-8 record over McNeese
•- SH has won the last three meetings
•- Last McNeese win over SH was a 3-1 win in Huntsville in 2018
 
Texas A&M
•- Texas A&M holds a 9-0 record over McNeese
•- Last meeting between the two teams was in College Station in 2011
 
McNeese Notes
•- McNeese enters its 27th soccer season in 2022
•- Head coach Drew Fitzgerald enters his seventh season as head coach and carries a 61-43-2 career record
•- McNeese is coming off a program tying 13 wins (13-5-2) and a second place finish in the Southland Conference with a 9-2-1 record
•- The Cowgirls were picked to finish second in the 2022 SLC preseason poll, receiving one first place vote
•- McNeese placed five on the SLC preseason team : Kiana Kukaua, Rachel Young, and Jackie Kelly were named to the first team while Morgan Schooley and Megan Mielke were named to the second team
•- McNeese returns 18 players from a year ago along with 11 newcomers, nine of which are freshmen.
•- The Cowgirls lost three of their top four scorers from last season
•- Rachel Young, who led the Cowgirls with seven goals last season as a sophomore returns to the lineup
•- The Cowgirls also return their top goalkeeper in sophomore Jacki Kelly. Kelly posted an 8-3-1 record in 2021 with 47 saves and three shutouts as a rookie.
•- McNeese will have eight home games including six SLC home games
•- The Cowgirls will host Sam Houston, Southern, Southeastern, Texas A&M-Commerce, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Houston Baptist, and Incarnate Word in home games.
 
Sam Houston Notes
•- Member of the WAC
•- Posted an 8-10 overall record and finished third in the Southwest Division in the WAC with a 6-4 conference record in 2021
•- Are under the direction of first year head coach Sonia Curvelo  
 
Texas A&M Notes
•- Member of the SEC
•- Coming off a 7-9-2 overall record and a 36-1 SEC record
•- Tied for 10^th place in the SEC in 2021
•- Return 17 letterwinners and nine starters, have eight newcomers
•- Head coach G Guerrieri enters his 32^nd year of coaching and 30^th as head coach of the Aggies