THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University women's soccer team will play its next two matches in Hawaii for the Outrigger Soccer Kickoff, starting Thursday night with a 9:30 p.m. contest against Hawaii Pacific University. 

Following the match against HPU, Nicholls (0-2) takes on host Hawaii on Sunday at 7 p.m. 

The Colonels fell short in their opening weekend at home, dropping close matches against Southern, 2-1, and Tarleton, 1-0. The defense had a solid showing while Karina Gonzalez scored the lone goal for Nicholls in the two matches. Goalkeeper Reagan Carter totaled nine saves for the weekend and nearly had a clean sheet against the Texans, but a goal in the 86th minute lifted Tarleton to a late victory.

Hawaii Pacific is coming off a 5-10-1 campaign as a NCAA Division II program. Caylie Uyema was the top offensive threat last season with four goals and returns for her junior season.

Hawaii opened its season last weekend with a 3-1 loss to Grand Canyon University. GCU jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the first half before Krista Peterson scored early in the second for the Rainbow Wahine. But Grand Canyon added one more goal to put the match away. Hawaii was scheduled to play Arizona State but it was canceled due to rain. 

UP NEXT
Nicholls will stay out west for a Tuesday contest against UC Irvine scheduled for 9 p.m.

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