LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese Cowgirl soccer team (8-5-1, 3-1-1 SLC) returns home Sunday to take on the Houston Christian Huskies (6-3-4, 2-0-2 SLC). Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

The Cowgirls enter Sunday's match coming off a 2-0 victory at UTRGV on Thursday, marking their sixth shutout of the season. McNeese broke through early in the second half when Isabella Baltov found Sumayah Brown in the 47th minute for her fourth goal of the season to give the Cowgirls a 1-0 lead. Morgan Fiedler added an insurance goal in the 86th minute to secure the 2-0 victory.

The Huskies were picked to finish tied for third in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll. Houston Christian enters Sunday's match following a 1-1 draw against Southeastern, extending its unbeaten streak to eight matches. Offensively, the Huskies are led by Isabella Dillow and Paisley Barela, who have each scored five goals this season.

Vs. Houston Christian
Date: Sunday, Oct. 11
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Lake Charles, LA
Venue: Cowgirl Field

Match Notes:

• 21st meeting between the two programs
• Houston Christian was tabbed to finish tied for 3rd in the conference preseason poll
• The Huskies are coming off a 1-1 tie at home against Southeastern
• McNeese enters the match coming off a 2-0 win on the road against UTRGV
• 17 different Cowgirls saw action on the pitch against the Vaqueros
• Shannon Dempsey, Alexandra Arvanitis, Ella Grace Davis, Rebecca Romero and Caitlyn Trosclair each played all 90 minutes for McNeese.
• Sumayah Brown was credited with her fourth goal of the season against UTRGV
• Isabella Baltov was credited with her third assist on the season
• Morgan Fiedler was credited with her first goal of the season at UTRGV
• McNeese outshot UTRGV 18-8 and held a 8-3 advantage in shots on goal
• Shannon Dempsey recorded three in the net for the Cowgirls
• Rhiannon Maynes-Tourond and Sumayah Brown lead the team in goals with four each.
• Rhiannon Maynes-Tourond leads the team with 10 points this season.
• Rhiannon Maynes-Tourond leads the team with 42 shots on the season with 18 being on goal
• Freshman, Isabella Baltov was named the 2025-2026 Gatorade Louisiana Girls' Soccer Player of the Year back in June after setting the Caddo Parish record for most goals in a high school career with 176.
• Rhiannon Maynes-Tourond returns to the Cowgirls after leading the team in goals last season with six.
• McNeese returns two goalies from last season in #0 Shannon Dempsey and #99 Celeste Marijnissen
• Marijnissen returns with the most experience in the net for the Cowgirls after starting/appearing in 17 matches last season while seeing 1,449:18 minutes in the net.
• Coach Alexsis Cable is in her first season at the helm of the Cowgirls after serving as an Assistant Coach at North Texas the last five season.
• Cowgirls return 13 players, and welcome 16 newcomers consisting of 12 freshmen and four transfers.
• 12 of the 13 returners appeared in at least 10 matches last season
• Cowgirl soccer is composed of 5 international players from 4 different countries (Canada, Panama, Sweden, and Netherlands)
• Only two Cowgirls are from the state of Louisiana