LAKE CHARLES – McNeese soccer returns home for two matches beginning on Friday to play host to Northwestern State and UIW, the first conference matches at Cowgirl Field this season.
 
Opponent: Northwestern State
Time: Friday, Oct. 4; 7 p.m.
Location: Lake Charles, La. • Cowgirl Field
Records: McNeese 3-8-1 (0-2-1), NSU 6-4-1 (2-0-0)
Stream: ESPN+
Series: 42^nd Meeting (McNeese leads 18-17-6)
 
Opponent: UIW
Time: Sunday, Oct. 6; 1 p.m.
Location: Lake Charles, La. • Cowgirl Field
Records: McNeese 3-8-1 (0-2-1), UIW 3-5-2 (0-2-0)
Stream: ESPN+
Series: 15^th Meeting (McNeese leads 6-5-3)
 
McNeese Notes
• Morgan Schooley was named SLC Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 17 for the first time this season after earning a game-winning goal against Louisiana Christian.
• McNeese ranks 82nd in the nation in shot accuracy at .488, fourth in the SLC.
• Jackie Kelly sits fifth in the nation with 75 saves on the season. She is currently ninth in the nation as well in saves per game at 6.25.
• The Pokes sit atop the conference and 16th in the nation with 6.50 saves per game.
• McNeese claimed two consecutive shutout victories at home against Texas Southern and Louisiana Christian, outscoring them 3-0 and 4-0 before taking on Texas State.
• The Cowgirls have netted 14 goals this season, seeing three players earn their first collegiate goal in freshmen Bailee Ramirez and Grace Denison, alongside sophomore Ellis Hosch.
• Three Cowgirls were named to the SLC Preseason First Team in Kaile Kukaua (Midfielder), Morgan Schooley (Defender), and Jackie Kelly (Goalkeeper)
• The Pokes were selected to finish third in the SLC preseason poll behind Lamar in the top spot and Texas A&M-Commerce in second.
• McNeese returns three of its five 2023 All-Southland Team selections in Kaile Kukaua, Jackie Kelly, and Morgan Schooley. All three of them earned All-Tournament recognition last season.
• The Cowgirls look to build upon their SLC Runner-Up bid in 2023, the first time the team has made it to the championship match since 2008.
• McNeese did not have any players transfer out from the program following the 2023 SLC Runner-Up finish at the conference tournament.
• 22 players remain Cowgirls after graduating seven players last season.
• The team's newcomers are comprised of 12 freshman and two transfers with three coming before the spring semester.
• McNeese went 1-1-0 during opening weekend, falling to UL-Lafayette 2-1 in the season opener before defeating Jackson State 2-1 at Cowgirl Field.
• Morgan Schooley netted the first goal of the season on a header after being served up by Morgan Fiedler off a corner kick.
• McNeese netted three goals during opening weekend. Schooley earned the first with Kaile Kukaua and Isabelle (Izzy) Smith earning the second and third respectively.
• McNeese hosted its lone exhibition of the season against Tarleton State, falling 1-0.
 
Northwestern St. Overview
• The Demons opened up the season with three straight matches against Power Four opponents followed by UL-Lafayette before going on a 6-0-1 streak.
• Amidst the six-match win streak for the Demons was common opponent in Jackson State and Tarleton State who the Pokes challenged in the preseason.
• NSU has kicked off conference play 2-0 against Nicholls at home and UIW on the road, outscoring them by a combined total of 4-1.
• NSU's largest victory was at home against Mississippi Valley State in a 7-0 performance.
• Emily Senatore leads the way with four goals and one assist for Northwestern St. with Isabella Ruggiano netting three goals alongside four assists.
• Libe Banuelos was named SLC Goalkeeper of the Week twice this season with Kora Fry also earning the same honors once in the net.
• Alina Grat was named SLC Defensive Player of the Week once for the Demons.
 
Northwestern St. Match Notes
• McNeese owns a two-match win streak against the Demons, winning both matches in 2023 2-0.
• The all-time match up has historically been close with the Cowgirls owning an 18-17-6 advantage.
• McNeese took the victory in the squad's first-ever meeting in 1996 3-0 in Natchitoches.
• Coach Fitzgerald is 2-0 against Coach Brophy.
 
UIW Overview
• The Cardinals own victories over Prairie View, UTEP, and Grand Canyon University.
• UIW tied Tarleton State 1-1 in the season opener and fell to Texas State 4-0 in similar opponents.
• Alex Knutson and Peri Olmo each own two goals on the season with four others collecting a singular goal.
• Olmo has earned the Cardinals' lone goal in conference play against Northwestern State.
• Erica Defferding has started nine matches while Faith Davies has claimed one start in the net.
• Ellie Mai and Sinead Duffy were each named SLC Offensive Player of the Week once for the Cardinals.
 
UIW Match Notes
• Both squads have fallen to Southeastern 1-0 this season.
• McNeese holds the all-time advantage 6-5-3 against the Cardinals with the teams first meeting in 2013.
• The first matchup resulted in a 0-0 tie in double overtime in Lake Charles.
• The Pokes own a 3-2-1 advantage when playing at home versus UIW.
• Coach Fitzgerald and Coach Plant are gridlocked with a 1-1-1 record in two seasons as conference opponents.
 
The Kelly File
• Jackie Kelly is close to breaking or tying numerous program records, sitting amongst the Top 10 all-time in six categories entering the season.
• Records to keep an eye on include:
 
- She has earned 50 career goalie starts and overtook Cassandra Read for the program record who held the record for 13 seasons at 46.
- Second most career goalie wins with 22, just two shy of tying the program record.
-  Tied third with most career shutouts at 11, seven shy of claiming the record.
- She sits second in career saves with 264. The record is 508 saves by Tony Deason.
- Kelly is second in career goalie games played with 58, four short of the program record at 62.
- Kelly has played 4,610 minutes in the net, the third most in program history.