THIBODAUX, La -  The Nicholls State women's soccer team hosts the McNeese State Cowgirls and Lamar Lady Cardinals this Friday and Sunday afternoon as the team continues conference play.

The Colonels (6-5-1, 0-2 SLC) are coming off of two straight road losses at Central Arkansas and Northwestern State last weekend, dropping back-to-back matches for the first time since earlier in the season. However, the Colonels still need only one win this weekend to earn the most in school history in a season, as well as break a three-year conference losing drought.

The Cowgirls and Lady Cards have only played one conference match so far, playing each other last weekend with Lamar pulling out the 1-0 win in Lake Charles.

The Cowgirls are 5-6 on the year heading into Friday's contest against the Colonels, losers of two of their last three. However two of those losses were both 1-0 contests to LSU and Lamar, while defeating Texas Southern 8-0 at home. McNeese is 2-4 in road games in 2011, with those wins coming against UL-Monroe and UL-Lafayette.

McNeese is paced by outscoring their opponents 14-6 in the first period, but give up a 13-1 goal advantage in each period after. The Cowgirls average 1.55 goals per game, while giving up 1.73 on the year to opponents. The team has only had nine players score goals, led by Johna Germany's five. Cassandra Read has been the primary starter for the Cowgirls, but has split time with Katie Seeber.

The Colonels are 1-13-2 all-time against McNeese, and will look to earn their first win at home against the Cowgirls.

The Lady Cards have used two tough west coast trips to get prepared for conference, playing UC-Riverside, Pepperdine and the likes of TCU and Evansville leading to their 4-5-1 overall record. They've played a common opponent in Southern, defeating them 4-0, as well as TSU, defeating them 11-0.

Lamar is averaging nearly three goals per game, putting them third in the conference in goals/goals per game, and assists/assists per game, led by Kimmy Albeno's conference-leading 3.90 shots per game.

The Colonels will have to deal with the Lady Cards 16.20 shots per game, but still have an effective goalie in Molly Mersereau who is third in saves in the conference and tied for fifth in saves per game.

The match against McNeese will begin at 4 p.m. in Thibodaux, and the contest against Lamar on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available at www.sidearmstats.com/nicholls/wsoc and on twitter @colonelsports.