BEAUMONT, Texas – In the first round of the Southland Conference Soccer Tournament, Nicholls State University will battle conference rival McNeese State University at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Lamar Soccer Complex.
 
The Colonels (9-9, 5-6 SLC) enter the tournament as the No. 5 seed after a dramatic 4-2 victory over Southeastern La. to earn a postseason berth. Colonel forward Spencer Valdespino had all four scores for Nicholls in the contest, tying the school record for most goals in a game and setting the school record for most goals against a Southland Conference opponent.
 
The Cowgirls (8-9-1, 6-5 SLC) earned a 4-3 victory over Central Arkansas in their final match of the year to solidify the No. 4 seed entering the conference tournament.
 
Nicholls crushed McNeese last season in a decisive 3-0 victory, but dropped a disappointing 3-2 contest to the Cowgirls earlier this year in the SLC opener after being outshot 21-8 in the match. The Colonels are 3-20-2 all-time against the Cowgirls, with victories coming in 2001, 2004 and 2013.
 
Ahead of the tournament, Valdespino and Jess Coates were named First-Team All-Conference. Valdespino also received Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week and College Sports Madness Southland Player of the Week after the final games of the regular season.
 
For the second straight year, Valdespino's offensive attack helped propel the Colonels to the Southland Conference Tournament. In 2013, the Spring Hill, Fla. native was the catalyst for the Colonels as her three goals in the final week helped send Nicholls to the conference tournament for the first time since 2004 and the third time in team history.
 
Valdespino had been relatively quiet this year in comparison to her 2013 campaign. Through the Colonels' first 16 games this season Valdespino had just five goals and one assist, but came alive against Southeastern Louisiana when her team needed her most. The win marked the first time in program history that the Colonels defeated the Lions and pushed the squad to its second consecutive conference tournament. Valdespino has taken 53 shots this season, scoring nine goals and adding an assist. She is currently first in the Southland for goals per game with a 0.67 average.
 
Coates has a team-leading seven assists this year, tying a program record set by Carolyn Noble in 2009. The First-Team All-Conference nod is a first for Coates, who was named all-conference honorable mention last season.
 
In addition to her seven assists, Coates has added five goals this year, good for second on the team. She is fourth all-time in program history for career assists (11) and third all-time in shots per game (1.94), goals per game (0.25), points per game (0.71) and assists per game (0.21).
 
While Valdespino and Coates have led the charge for Nicholls offensively, the team has maintained an extremely balanced effort on both sides of the ball. 16 different Colonels have scored in 2014 and 13 different players have registered an assist. Emily Werenskiold has contributed two goals and four assists on the year, while Lauren O'Brien has added three goals. O'Brien will miss the conference opener after receiving a red card in the final game of the regular season.
 
Savannah LaRicci leads the Cowgirls offensively with six goals and three assists this season, and was named Second-Team All-Conference on Tuesday. LaRicci was responsible for all three goals against the Colonels in their previous matchup, scoring twice and assisting on the third goal. Siera Sisco has four goals for McNeese, placing her second on the team, while Krista Steinbeiser has three goals (one coming against Nicholls) and two assists.
 
Goalie Taylor Mosley (5-8) has been in and out of the lineup this season due to injuries and for matchup purposes, but has shown a propensity for stopping tough shots, including a save on a penalty kick in her most recent action. Mosley has logged 1239 minutes on the pitch this season, earning 70 saves with 25 goals allowed for a .737 save percentage. Mosley has stepped up her game in conference play, registering 42 saves with just 12 goals allowed and a .778 save percentage.
 
Maggie Marks (3-5-1) was in the net for the Cowgirls when they defeated Nicholls earlier this year, but has not played since a 4-2 loss against Sam Houston State on Sept. 28. Since that time, Lauren Sestak (5-3) has taken over goalkeeper duties, earning 31 saves while giving up nine goals for a .775 save percentage.
 
Nicholls will battle McNeese State on Thursday with the winner advancing to face Stephen F. Austin on Friday at 7 p.m.
  
 
First Round, Semifinals Available on Southland Digital Network; Championship match on ESPN3
The championship match will be carried exclusively on ESPN3 with Lincoln Rose on play-by-play and two-time first-team all-Southland selection Laura Sadler on color. ESPN3 is available via WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app. In addition, first round and semifinal games of the tournament will be streamed live on the Southland Conference Digital Network, available at southland.org/watch and the Southland Conference app. Brian Daughdril will handle play-by-play duties for the first round and semifinal matches.
 
Tickets Available for Southland Soccer Tournament
Tickets are available through the Lamar ticket office.
Two-Day Session Pass: $15.00
Single-Day Pass: $10.00
Championship Pass: $8.00
Southland Student (with ID): Free
Children 5 and Under: Free
 
Women's College Cup Selection Show
The 2014 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship bracket will be announced the second weekend in November prior to First Round competition. The winner of the Southland Conference Tournament earns an automatic bid to the first round of the Women's College Cup held Nov. 15-17.
 
Visit geauxcolonels.com to find live stats and the most up-to-date information on Nicholls women's soccer.