LAFAYETTE, La. – After a pair of successful exhibition matches against Mobile and Louisiana College, including an eight-goal outpouring on Friday, the Nicholls State University soccer team will turn its attention to Sunday's regular-season opener on the road against Louisiana-Lafayette, slated for a 1 p.m. start.
 
The Colonels (0-0) and Ragin' Cajuns (0-1) were set to play last season but inclement weather forced a cancelation of the match.
 
Nicholls is 2-6 all-time against Louisiana-Lafayette, but the Colonels have won two of the last three matchups, including a 2-1 victory in the most recent meeting between the programs in 2013 at the Ragin' Cajuns Soccer Facility.
 
Louisiana-Lafayette opened its regular season on Friday with a 1-0 loss to Sam Houston. The Ragin' Cajuns outshot the Bearkats 17-8, with five attempts coming on-goal, but were unable to overcome the lone score coming in the 57^th minute. 
 
Nicholls enters Sunday's matchup boasting 22 returning letter winners and seven returning starters from last year's record-setting team. The Colonels finished 10-10, reaching their second-consecutive Southland Conference Tournament and securing the first postseason soccer win in school history. Nicholls also earned the first victories in program history against both Southern Miss and Southeastern Louisiana during the 2014 season.
 
Jess Coates and Spencer Valdespino headline the returning class as two of the most decorated athletes in Colonel soccer history. Last season both players were named to the All-Southland First Team and received Louisiana Sports Writer's Association recognition.
 
Nicholls will look to build off last year's efforts, mixing a core group of veteran players with an influx of youth over the last two recruiting classes.
 
The Colonels will face Southern Miss for their home opener on Friday, Aug. 28 at 4 p.m.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls soccer visit geauxcolonels.com.