LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese Cowgirl soccer team (8-5-2, 3-1-2 SLC) returns to action Thursday night to take on the Incarnate Word Cardinals (7-6-2, 4-2-0 SLC). Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

The Cowgirls enter the final stretch of the season sitting in sixth place in the Southland Conference standings, just two points behind first place. Four teams are currently tied for second, just one point out of the top spot, keeping the conference race tight heading into the final matches. Head coach Alexsis Cable is also two wins away from becoming the winningest first-year head coach in program history. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Shannon Dempsey has moved into a tie for third place in the McNeese record book for most shutouts in a single season with six.

McNeese last took the field Sunday, Oct. 11, playing to a 1-1 draw against Houston Christian. Rhiannon Maynes-Tourond scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season in the 41st minute to give the Cowgirls the lead.

The Cardinals were picked to finish eighth in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll. UIW enters Thursday's match up following a 1-0 loss at Lamar on Sunday, snapping a three-match conference winning streak against Southeastern, Northwestern State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Offensively, the Cardinals are led by Zaiba Ishaque, who has recorded three goals and two assists for eight points.

vs. Incarnate Word
Date: Thursday, Oct. 22
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Lake Charles, LA
Venue: Cowgirl Field

Match Notes:

• 17th meeting between the two programs
• Incarnate Word was tabbed to finish 8th in the Southland Preseason Poll
• The Cardinals are coming off a 1-0 loss on the road at Lamar on Sunday
• McNeese enters the match coming off a 1-1 home tie against Houston Christian.
• 17 different Cowgirls saw action on the pitch last time out
• Shannon Dempsey, Anna Beth Korhonen, Rebecca Romero and Caitlyn Trosclair each played all 90 minutes last time out.
• Rhiannon Maynes-Tourond was credited with her fifth goal of the season for a team high.
• Ella Grace Davis was credited with her third assist on the season
• Houston Christian outshot McNeese 19-17, while both teams recorded nine shots on goal
• Shannon Dempsey recorded a career-high and season-high eight saves against Houston Christian
• Rhiannon Maynes-Tourond leads the team with 12 points this season.
• Coach Cable is two wins away from being the winningest first year head coach in program history 
• Shannon Dempsey sits tied for 3rd in the McNeese Record Book for most shutouts in a single season with 6
• 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