THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's soccer team will kick off their 2016 campaign with a pair of home matches this weekend.
 
The Colonels will host Louisiana-Lafayette at 4 p.m. on Friday, before a home bout against Southern on Sunday. Friday's match will be the first under Head Coach Mac McBride as the team takes a step into a new era of Nicholls soccer.
 
Last season the Colonels posted a 6-10-1 overall record with a 4-7 mark in Southland Conference play. Nicholls ended the year on a high note, winning three of its final four matches, and narrowly missing an appearance at the league tournament.
 
Head Coach Dylan Harrison stepped down in the offseason to accept the same position at his alma mater, Trinity University in San Antonio. With a new head coach and the loss of the most decorated athlete in program history, senior Spencer Valdespino, this year's squad will feature a much different attack than the previous season.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns (1-1) opened their year with a 3-0 road loss at the hands of #22 Ole Miss on Friday. Louisiana-Lafayette responded with a decisive 10-0 victory over Alcorn State on Sunday. The Ragin' Cajuns set single-match school-records in shots (39), points scored (30), shots on goal (25) and assists (10), while tying the program mark for goals scored against the Braves.
 
Sunday's match will be the season-opener for the Jaguars, who finished 2-15 last season.
 
Following this weekend's action, the Colonels will travel to Monroe for a battle with ULM at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2. Nicholls will then face a road bout with Grambling on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 1 p.m.
 
All home soccer matches are offered absolutely free.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls soccer visit geauxcolonels.com. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_SOC.