COMMERCE, Texas — The McNeese Cowgirl soccer team (8-6-2, 3-2-2 Southland Conference) returns to action Sunday when it travels to face the East Texas A&M Lions (3-7-5, 2-3-2 Southland Conference). Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., with live streaming available on ESPN+.

McNeese head coach Alexsis Cable is two wins away from becoming the winningest first-year head coach in program history. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Shannon Dempsey has climbed into a tie for third place in the McNeese record book for most shutouts in a single season with six.

The Cowgirls enter Sunday's contest following a 2-1 home loss to Incarnate Word on Thursday. Morgan Fiedler scored McNeese's lone goal in the 71st minute.

Eighteen Cowgirls saw action against the Cardinals, with Alexandra Arvanitis, Rebecca Romero, Caitlyn Trosclair and Anna Beth Korhonen each playing all 90 minutes. Incarnate Word held a 19-15 advantage in shots, while McNeese led 7-6 in shots on goal. Dempsey and Celeste Marijnissen split time in goal, recording two saves apiece.

East Texas A&M comes into Sunday's matchup following a 1-1 road draw against Houston Christian. Allyson Reed scored the equalizer for the Lions in the 62nd minute off an assist from Addisen Ramirez. Reed leads the Lions offensively this season with 14 points, including six goals and two assists.

at East Texas A&M
Date: Sunday, Oct. 25
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Commerce, Texas
Venue: Lion Soccer Field

Match Notes:

• 8th meeting between the two programs
• Incarnate Word was tabbed to finish 2nd in the Southland Preseason Poll
• The Lions are coming off a 1-1 draw on the road at Houston Christian on Thursday
• McNeese enters the match coming off a 2-1 home loss against Incarnate Word.
• 18 different Cowgirls saw action on the pitch last time out
• Alexandra Arvanitis, Anna Beth Korhonen, Rebecca Romero and Caitlyn Trosclair each played all 90 minutes against the Cardinals.
• Morgan Fiedler was credited with her second goal of the season in the 71st minute.
• UIW outshot McNeese 19-15, while McNeese held a 7-6 advantage in shots on goal
• Shannon Dempsey and Celeste Marijnissen shared time in the net each recording two saves on the night.
• Rhiannon Maynes-Tourond leads the team with 12 points this season as well as accounting for five goals.
• 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