BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University opens the 2019 season on Thursday and Sunday when they host the Cardinal Classic at the LU Soccer Complex. The Cardinals will play at Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and close out the Cardinal Classic by hosting Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
 
On Thursday night at the LU Soccer Complex, its Latino Soccer League Night. Kids receive free admission to the game if wearing their soccer jersey. On Sunday it is Family Appreciate Day and fans in attendance will receive a soccer schedule poster.
  
THIS WEEK – Thursday, Aug. 22 vs. Oklahoma State, 7:30 p.m. (Beaumont, Texas/LU Soccer Complex)
Thursday's game will be the first game of the 2019 season for both the Cowgirls and Cardinals. The Cowgirls are coming off a 10-7-1 season that included a 2-6-1 mark in the Big 12, which placed them ninth in the league. The 2018 season was the first time since 2005 that Oklahoma State failed to make the postseason.
 
Oklahoma State returns 15 letter-winners in 2019, including nine players who started at least 10 games a year ago.
 
The Cowgirls are in its 24th season as a program and have earned a berth in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championships 10 of the last 13 years, beginning in 2006. From 2006 to 2011, the Cowgirls earned six-straight NCAA Tourney bids and advanced to at least the second round each time, including back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in 2010 and 2011.
 
OSU was picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 in the preseason vote of the league's head coaches. Junior defender Kim Rodriguez was the lone Cowgirl named to the 2019 Preseason All-Big 12 Team.
 
Sunday, Aug. 25 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 7:30 p.m. (Beaumont, Texas/LU Soccer Complex)
On Sunday, the Cards face-off with the Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette. This will be the second game of the season for both teams as they will play Thursday in the Cardinal Classic. This season is the 20th season for Ragin' Cajun soccer and is the first with head coach Lance Key.
 
Louisiana-Lafayette returns 18 letter-winners and six starters from last year's team. Top scorers Una Einarsdottir and Gwen Mummert return this season with Julianne DeBlieux, Telly Vunipola, Madysin Girouard and Grace Champagne, each reaching the scoring column. Mackenzie Lee enters 2019 as a senior goalkeeper and is tied for eighth in school history with 108 career saves.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns first four matches of the season will be on the road. Louisiana-Lafayette is looking for its first neutral-site victory since Sept. 13, 2015.
 
Louisiana-Lafayette was picked to finish ninth in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Ragin' Cajuns finished with 39 points, four points behind eighth-place Troy.
 
LAST TIME OUT – RICE (Aug. 17)
The Lamar University women's soccer team opened the 2019 season against Rice University in an exhibition game. The Owls defeated the Cards, 4-1, and Esther Okoronkwo scored the lone goal for LU.
 
"We came into this game knowing it we be a good test for us leading into the season," remarked head coach Steve Holeman. "Rice is a quality team and they played solid defense on us all night. We improved as a team tonight and this was a good match to prepare us for the 2019 season."
 
The Owls outshot the Cards 19-8 in the contest and 11-5 on shots on goal. Meg Sheppard and Okoronkwo led the Cards with three shots each. Sandra Nygard was one of three goalkeepers, who played for LU, led the team with three saves. Every Cardinal played in the contest.
 
Preseason Southland Conference Poll
Coming off a third-place finish in the 2018 season, the Lamar University women's soccer team was picked to finish third place in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll, as announced by the SLC. The Cardinals garnered three first-place votes and 206 total points to claim the third-place ranking. LU is coming off a 2018 season that saw them finish 12-6-2 on the season an 7-2-2 in Southland Conference action.
 
Preseason All-SLC Selections
The Southland Conference announced the 2019 Soccer Preseason All-Conference teams on Wednesday morning. Lamar University earned two selections on the teams. The Cardinals Madison Ledet earned First Team honors, while teammate Lucy Ashworth was named Second Team.

Ledet, a Nederland, Texas native, was third on the Cardinals in scoring last season as she tallied 16 points with five goals and six assists. The six assists were the most on the team. She tallied two goals and three assists in SLC action. She appeared and started all 18 games for the Cards during the 2018 season.
 
Ashworth a native of Wigan, England, finished second on the Cards in scoring with 17 points on six goals and five assists during the 2018 season. She had four goals and one assist in Southland play. She played and started all 18 games for LU last season. 

UP NEXT
Following the Cardinal Classic, LU is set to host Southern Miss. on Thursday, Aug. 29 at the LU Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.