BEAUMONT, Texas - Lamar University soccer head coach Nathan Kogut announced the eight-game non-conference portion of the 2024 schedule on Thursday. Five of these contests will be at the LU Soccer Complex including a season and home opener on August 15th against Texas A&M and another match against perennial NCAA Tournament team Denver ten days later.

Before the two-time defending Southland Conference champs take on the Aggies, they will have two exhibitions to prep themselves for the upcoming campaign. First up will be Blinn College (Aug. 6th) and then they will host their annual Red-White scrimmage four days later. The match against A&M will be the first time Lamar has hosted a SEC opponent since 2019 when Alabama faced off against LU.
 
Following LU's home opener, they will alternate home and away games from Aug. 22nd to Sep. 8th. The road games in this stretch will be against Abilene Christian (Aug. 22nd), Rice (Aug. 29th), and South Alabama (Sep. 5th) while Big Red hosts Denver (Aug. 25th), Sam Houston (Sep. 1st), and Texas Southern (Sep. 8th). The last non-conference game sees the Cardinals hosting Louisiana on Sep. 12th before the conference season begins September 22.

"We are really excited about our non-conference schedule this fall," Kogut said. "Our 2024 team will be tested by national tournament teams as well as teams that are consistently competing for berths at the end of each year. Our schedule is set up to test us and make us grow so that we are able to be ready for Southland Conference play. Our home schedule is one where our fans will get to see quality opponents in Beaumont and our fans can help us make a difference like they have the last few years. Being able to mix in a SEC opponent and renew some in state rivalries means there's something for everyone this year."
 
Lamar returns 19 players from the 2023 squad including SLC Defensive Player of the Year Arely Alaniz, midfielder of the year Alana Clark, first-teamer Isela Ramirez and second-teamers Caragan Childs and Trinity Clark. LU repeated as conference regular season and tournament champions with a 15-3-3 mark including an undefeated 9-0-1 mark in SLC play. They would qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year.

 
Game times have not yet been announced.
 

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