BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University women’s soccer team opens a five-game road swing, its longest of the season, with non-conference games at Louisiana-Lafayette and Southern University this weekend.

 

The Cardinals (0-4-0) face the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns (1-3-0) at 6 p.m. Friday before heading to Southern (0-1-0) for a game at 1 p.m. Sunday.

 

“We are a familiar with Louisiana-Lafayette because we played them this spring,” LU coach Steve Holeman said. “Obviously, things change from spring to fall, but we have an idea of what they can do. They are not at the level of TCU, but they will be a tough opponent.”

 

The Ragin’ Cajuns have lost two straight after a 10-0 victory over Alcorn State in their home opener. Louisiana-Lafayette, which dropped a 3-0 decision at No. 22 Ole Kiss in the season opener, lost two games this past weekend, falling at Nicholls 3-1 and at home to Southern Miss by a 2-1 score.

 

Mackenzie Higgins leads the Ragin’ Cajuns with seven points on three goals and one assist. Louisiana-Lafayette holds a 3-0 lead in the all-time series with the Cardinals.

 

The Cardinals look to continue their mastery of Southern when they meet the Jaguars on the brand-new turf of A.W. Mumford Stadium on Sunday. LU is 3-0 all-time against the Jaguars and 15-1-1 all-time against members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

 

“It will be a much faster game on turf,” Holeman said. “It will be hot on that turf, but we will be prepared for it.”

 

Southern, which opened its season with an 8-0 loss at Nicholls, hosts McNeese on Friday evening.

 

“We keep getting better each day,” Holeman said. “That’s our goal. We played a strong first half against TCU, being down just 1-0 at halftime. That’s something we can build on.”

 

LU freshman goalkeeper Rachel Gries is third in the nation with 34 saves and 13^th in the nation with an average of 8.5 saves per game. Freshman defender Carly Morgan has played all 360 minutes for the Cardinals this season.

 

Following this weekend’s games, LU is at Southern Miss at 4 p.m. Sept. 9 before opening Southland Conference play at Nicholls at 4 p.m. Sept. 16. The Cardinals close out the road swing with a non-conference tilt at LSU at 1 p.m. Sept. 18. LU’s next home game is a Southland Conference clash against Northwestern State at 7 p.m. Sept. 23.

 

LU CARDINALS