Match Info

THIBODAUX, La. – Off to the best start in program history, the Nicholls women's soccer team closes out the non-conference portion of its schedule at home this Friday at 4 p.m., as the Colonels host the Alcorn State Lady Braves at the Nicholls Soccer Complex.
 
With a 5-0-1 record, the Colonels are just one of three teams in the Southland Conference that remains unbeaten on the year along with Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word. Nicholls is tied with the Wildcats and the McNeese State Cowgirls, next week's conference opening foe, for the most wins in the league heading into the beginning of Southland Conference play next week.
 
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 Nicholls State University women's soccer team remained unbeaten on the 2013 season after defeating Mississippi Valley State and Louisiana-Lafayette last week to move to 5-0-1 on the season. With the wins the Colonels are now off to their best start in program history and have not been unbeaten this long into the season, matching their entire win total from 2012. It was an interesting week for the team as they were scheduled to host both games in Thibodaux, but had to move the game against Louisiana-Lafayette to the Cajuns Soccer Facility due to inclement weather and poor field conditions.
 
Nicholls weathered the changes and claimed both, due in part to the play of sophomore forward Spencer Valdespino who was named the Southland Conference Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after scoring three goals and dishing out two assists. In the 5-1 win over the Devilettes, Valdespino scored the opening goal of the match, then assisted on both of teammate Alex Marino's two goals. Then against the Ragin' Cajuns, she led off the game with a goal to give Nicholls the lead, then scored the game-winner with nine seconds left to break the 1-all tie and give Nicholls its first win in Lafayette. It was the second time in her career that she's scored twice in a contest, and is the second Colonel to win offensive player of the week award after Jess Coates won the honor in the first week of the season.
 
So far this season, Nicholls has outscored its opponents 21-7, and fired off 50 more shots. 11 players have scored already this season, and four players have two assists.
 
Scouting Alcorn State
Alcorn has played just one match so far this season and the tilt against the Colonels is just the second for the Lady Braves this season. Alcorn fell to the Southeastern Lady Lions 9-0 in Hammond last Sunday. SLU scored all nine of its goals in the first 36 minutes of the match and held off the Lady Braves for the shutout. Alcorn took just five shots and had two shots on goal during the match, as the Lady Braves suited up just 12 players.
 
Up Next
Nicholls opens Southland Conference play next Friday afternoon, hosting the McNeese State Cowgirls at 4 p.m. in Thibodaux.