Weekend Info

THIBODAUX, La. – After raising the bar, and expectations after the first weekend of league play, the Nicholls State University women's soccer team faces another tough task this week in hosting the undefeated Abilene Christian Wildcats on Friday afternoon and the 6-2 University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.
 
Just one of two remaining unbeaten teams on the season in the Southland, the Colonels got off to a great start after defeating McNeese State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last week and is one of four teams that are 2-0 after the first weekend of league matches.
 
Along with it being homecoming week, the soccer team is welcoming back all former Colonel men's and women's soccer players for their Alumni Weekend festivities. On Saturday morning, the team will host an Alumni Game featuring all former Colonel student-athletes.
 
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 women's soccer team made history over the weekend, first by defeating McNeese State 3-0, then traveling on the road and beating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 2-1. The win over the Cowgirls broke a five-year conference losing skid and was the first win over MCN since 2004, while the win over the Islanders moved the Colonels to 2-0 in league play for the first time ever and was the first conference road win since defeating McNeese State in Lake Charles in 2004.
 
For her efforts, sophomore forward Spencer Valdespino was named the Southland Conference Women's Soccer Offensive player of the week on Tuesday, the second time this year she's won the award. She scored all three goals against the Cowgirls for the first hat trick of her career, and then scored the opening goal in the match against TAMCC for four on the weekend. She is currently three goals and six points shy of tying the school record for most in a season in both categories.
 
Hannah Savoie scored her fourth goal of the season and the game winner against TAMCC, and is second on the team in points and goals.
 
Although the Nicholls offense has been dominant, the suffocating Colonel defense has held opponents in check through the first half of the year. Only giving up only eight goals on the season, the back line of Meghan Lanteigne, Amber Moore and Kirsten Cunningham have played all 90 minutes at least six or more times this season.
 
Scouting Abilene Christian
ACU in its first season in the Southland is making a name for itself sporting the same record as the Colonels with wins over SHSU and Houston Baptist over the weekend. Although unable to make the league tournament, the Wildcats are led by Andrea Carpenter's seven goals and four assists on the season. ACU doesn't score a lot, but they don't give up a lot either, owning an 18-5 advantage in goals scored on the season, holding teams to just ten shots per game.
 
Scouting Incarnate Word
Incarnate Word comes into the weekend 6-2 on the year and 0-1 in league play after defeating UT-Perminan Basin 6-1 before falling to Sam Houston State 3-1 on Sunday. The Cardinals are led by Tina Patterson who is in her 20th season with the program. She has 17 winning seasons, and 16 double-digit winning seasons to her credit. Sydney Solomon and Katie Miller lead the team with five goals each.
 
Up Next
Nicholls remains home, hosting the Lamar Cardinals next Friday afternoon in Thibodaux.