Weekend Info

THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's soccer team closes out a three-game home stand on Friday hosting the Lamar Cardinals at 4 p.m. at the Nicholls Soccer Complex in Thibodaux.
 
The Colonels have just one contest this weekend, which will give the squad a short rest before heading out on a three-week, five-match road swing to close out the month of October.
 
A lot is on the line for Nicholls after splitting last weekend's matches with Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word, as a win will not only keep the Colonels near the top of the Southland Conference standings, but also earn the first double-digit winning season in the program's history. At 9-1-1 and 3-1 in league play, Nicholls is tied for second in the SLC and can continue the march to only its third conference tournament berth in school history heading into the final half of the year.
 
Tickets can be bought online as well as at the gate for $5 or for the entire season for $30 as students can get in free with their Colonel Card. For fans unable to make the matches, for the first time this season all Colonel home soccer matches will be posted and archived later that day after the conclusion of the match and can be viewed with a subscription to Colonels All-Access.
 
Last Time Out
The Colonel women's soccer team pushed their record to eight consecutive victories with a 3-1 win over Abilene Christian, but suffered their first defeat of the season after falling to Incarnate Word 4-2. With the weekend split the Colonels now stand at 9-1-1 on the year and in a tie for second place in the Southland Conference with a 3-1 record. Nicholls pushes into the second half of the season with the second most potent scoring offense in the country averaging over three goals per game and fifth best points per game average at over nine points per outing. The Colonels have been held to just a single goal once this season, while giving up multiple goals only twice.
 
Although she didn't score in the win over Abilene Christian, Spencer Valdespino found the back of the net against UIW, scoring once and dishing out an assist. She continues to climb the charts in season scoring with 20 total points, as she is one goal scored from tying her entire 2012 season output. While leading the league, Valdespino is seventh in the country in points per game (2.30) eighth in goals per game (1.00) 12th in total goals (10) and 13th in total points (23). Melissa Pestalozzi, who leads the team with four assists, is currently 89th in the nation and third in the SLC. She has eight for her career which places her fifth all-time at Nicholls. Against ACU, Nicholls shared the wealth in scoring getting the second goal of the year from Kristy Tatom, fourth goal of the year from Lauren O'Brien and first goal of her career from Amber Moore.
 
Scouting Lamar
The Lamar Cardinals come into Friday's match with a 3-7-1 overall record and 0-3-1 mark in Southland Conference play. The Cardinals are coming off of a 1-0, overtime defeat at the hands of Houston Baptist in a match that had to be postponed due to weather. LU's three wins on the season came at the hands of Prairie View A&M, UTSA and Southern, but since league play began, the Cardinals have been shut out in all four contests, including their scoreless draw against Northwestern State in Natchitoches.
 
Kimmy Albeno leads Lamar with five goals and one assist for 11 total points on the season, followed Jennifer Yacuta's four and Jannet Hernandez's three. So far, Lamar has been outscored 23-14 on the season and has given up an average of 2.09 goals per game. On average, Lamar is scoring 1.27, getting outshot 17.3 to 13.8. Goalie Bailey Fontenot has started the majority of the games in goal for Lamar, and boasts a 2.06 goals allowed average with 68 saves and two shutouts. It's been tough sledding in her position, as opposing teams have scored nine goals in the first half of games and 12 in the second.
 
Up Next
Nicholls begins its longest road stretch of the season, taking on league-leading Oral Roberts and Central Arkansas in the first of five consecutive matches away from Thibodaux.