LAKE CHARLES, La. – McNeese Soccer plays host to Louisiana Christian 7 p.m. Friday evening at Cowgirl Field after the threat of Hurricane Francine moved past Lake Charles, allowing for the match to continue as scheduled. The match marks the first time in program history either program will challenge the other during the regular season.
 
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Lake Charles, La. • Cowgirl Field
Records: McNeese 2-5-0, LCU 0-2-1
Stream: N/A
Series: First Meeting
 
McNeese Notes
• Jackie Kelly sits eighth in the nation with 45 saves on the season. She is currently 16th in the nation as well in saves per game at 6.43.
• McNeese ranks eighth in shot accuracy at .595.
• The Pokes sit second in the conference with 6.57 saves per game and a .595 shot accuracy.
• The Cowgirls come off a 3-0 victory over Texas Southern, the second consecutive year to earn a 3-0 victory over the Tigers at home.
• 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.
 
Louisiana Christian Overview
• LCU scored its lone goal of the season against second-ranked William Carey.
• LCU has fallen to its opponents twice 1-5 to #2 William Carey and 0-1 to Southern, tying with Mobile.
• The Wildcats went 10-5-2 in 2023 under Coach Ayers who departed for Texas Southern following the campaign.
• Valeria Barriga Casallas has scored the lone goal for the Wildcats with Kayleigh Tomasich with the assist.
 
Match Notables
• McNeese and Louisiana Christian are slated to face each other for the first time in program history.
• Coach Fitzgerald and Coach Houle will meet for the first time in either career.
• Both squads have met during the spring seasons, but never during the regular season.
 
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:
 
- Tied second for most career goalie wins with 21, just three shy of the program record.
-  Tied third with most career shutouts at 11, seven shy of claiming the record.
- She sits fifth in career saves with 234, two shy of fourth, three of third, and seven short of 
second. The record is 508 saves by Tony Deason.
- Kelly is second in career goalie games played with 53, nine short of the program record at 62.
- She has earned 45 career goalie starts and will tie Cassandra Read for the program record of 46 with her next start.
- Kelly has played 4,205 minutes in the net, the third most in program history.