BEAUMONT, Texas – Season openers are always special, no matter what. However, Friday's season opener for the Lamar University women's soccer team is a little more special for head coach Orlando Cervantes.
 
The Cardinals host San Jose State, Cervantes' alma mater, in a non-conference game at 7 p.m. Friday at the LU Soccer Complex as the LU soccer program begins its ninth season.
 
"There are two schools I care about; the one I'm coaching at and the one I attended," Cervantes said. "This game is special to me."
 
This is the second straight year that LU has faced San Jose State to open the season. Last year, LU claimed a 1-0 victory at San Jose State as Alexus Aviles scored the only goal on an assist from Jannet Hernandez.
 
"We want to get off to another good start this season," LU senior defender Megan Campbell said. "Last year, we couldn't maintain that momentum. This year, we have to sustain that momentum."
 
The Cardinals went 5-11-2 last season, including a 3-6-2 mark in the Southland Conference as LU finished eighth and missed out on the conference tournament for the second year in a row after reaching the tournament finals in 2012.
 
The Cardinals were predicted to finish ninth in the conference this season in a poll of the SLC coaches. The league's sports information directors tabbed LU to finish eighth.
 
"Last year was the most talented team I've had at LU, but we just weren't mentally tough," Cervantes said. "I think we have the talent this year to compete, and I believe that we are much stronger mentally as well."
 
Cervantes said he is extremely pleased with the team's work ethic so far at camp.
 
"We offered to give them an afternoon session off one day during the two-a-day sessions and they didn't want to cancel the practice," Cervantes said. "They wanted to practice. I love that kind of attitude."
 
The Cardinals play three of their first four games of 2015 at home. After Friday's opener, LU is at Louisiana Tech at 1 p.m. Sunday before returning to the LU Soccer Complex for two games next weekend. LU entertains Texas Southern at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 and LSU-Alexandria at 5 p.m. Aug. 30 in a rare Sunday evening game.
 
The first 250 people at the San Jose State game will receive free Lamar University soccer hand fans to help beat the heat. In addition, there will be free shaved ice courtesy of Kona Ice. There will be a postgame autograph session featuring members of the LU soccer team.
 
For ticket information, call 409-880-1715, or click here. Friday's game will be streamed live here. 

Live stats for Friday's game.

Live stats for Sunday's game.