BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University women's soccer team opens its Southland Conference schedule at 4 p.m. Friday when it travels to Thibodaux, La., for a meeting with the Nicholls Colonels.
 
The Cardinals (1-6-0) follow that contest by wrapping up the non-conference portion of the season by facing LSU at 1 p.m. Sunday in Baton Rouge, La. Sunday's game will be shown on the SEC Network+, which is available
 
"It's an opportunity to get a new start," LU coach Steve Holeman said of the contest at Nicholls. "We've played a tough non-conference schedule to help us get ready for conference play. We have gotten better. Now it's time for that hard work to pay off. I know the girls are excited to start conference play."
 
LU is 7-2-0 all-time against the Colonels, including a 3-1 record at Nicholls. Last season, LU claimed a 1-0 win over Nicholls at the LU Soccer Complex in the conference opener as Mari Olastuen scored the game's only goal with 18 seconds remaining in regulation.
 
Both the Cardinals and Colonels are under new direction this season, with Holeman, who coached for 21 years in the SEC, now leading LU, while Mac McBride, who coached at Division II Notre Dame College, took over the reins at Nicholls.
 
The Colonels (3-2-0) entered the week ranked first in the nation in offense, averaging 4.4 goals per game. Nicholls has 22 goals on the season, with 18 of them coming in two non-conference victories, a 10-0 win over Grambling State and an 8-0 decision over Southern. Kristy Helmers and Jess Coates share the team lead in scoring for the Colonels with 13 points apiece. Coates has five goals and three assists, while Helmers has contributed four goals and five assists.
 
Goalkeeper Roosa Hurmerinta has started all five games for the Colonels, posting a 1.01 goals-against average with no shutouts and a .750 save percentage.
 
The Cardinals, who wrap up a five-game road swing with this weekend's contests, are led in scoring by M.J. Eckart, who has four goals for eight points. Samantha Moreno has three points on one goal and one assist for LU.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Rachel Gries is seventh in the nation with 50 saves. Gries has started all six games for LU, posting a 2.62 goals-against average with one shutout and a .746 save percentage.
 
Sunday, the Cardinals will meet LSU for the first time in the 10-year history of the LU soccer program. The Tigers are 4-4-0 overall and 0-1-0 in the SEC heading into the weekend. LSU hosts Ole Miss in a conference game Friday before facing LU on Sunday.
 
The Tigers, who are 0-2 at home this season, are led by Jorian Baucom, who has four goals and eight points. Caroline Brockmeier has played every second in goal for the Tigers, compiling a 1.25 goals-against average with three shutouts and a save percentage of .804.
 
"I'm quite familiar with LSU," said Holeman, who spent his first 21 years as a head coach in the SEC. "They're very athletic and well coached. This is another game that will help us get better."

Holeman is 9-8-4 against the Tigers in his career, including a 4-4-2 mark in games at LSU.
 
Following this weekend's games, the Cardinals return home to host a pair of Southland Conference contests. Northwestern State comes to the LU Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. Sept. 23, while Central Arkansas provides the opposition at 1 p.m. Sept. 25.
 
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