After starting the season 2-6-1 in non-conference play, which featured the likes of No. 8 Texas, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana Tech, the Lady Colonels soccer team is prepared to start Southland Conference play tomorrow at Southeastern Louisiana. Lady Colonels Head Coach Cindy Piper said conference play is her main focus.
“Six teams go to the conference tournament,” Piper said. “Once you get in, anything can happen. That has been our main focus.”
The two wins the Lady Colonels had this season have already tied the total number of wins the team had last season. The Lady Colonels finished last season with a record of 2-13 overall with no wins in the conference.
The Lady Colonels currently find themselves in seventh place out of the nine teams in the conference. The top six teams will advance to the conference tournament at the season’s end.
The Lady Colonels’ two victories this season came against Prairie View A & M and Cleveland State.
Piper said she has already seen improvement in her team from last season.
“There is always room for improvement, but we are improving every time we step out onto the field,” Piper said. “We know our strengths, and we are playing on them.”
Despite being the underdogs in their Sept. 15 5-0 loss to the University of Texas, the Lady Colonels found themselves in the middle of a 1-0 match at halftime.
Although the Longhorns pulled away at the end, Piper said she saw a lot of heart and fight in her team.
“We knew we were the underdogs in the match and a lot of people weren’t giving us a fighting chance,” Piper said. “Our kids stuck to the game plan and did well. Overall, I was pleased with the effort.”
After battling through their non-conference schedule, Piper said the Lady Colonels have to build on their team confidence.
“Overall, the morale has greatly improved so far this season,” Piper said. “The girls are sticking together and competing, and that builds team confidence.”
With the season now at the mid-way point, the Lady Colonels are hoping to start conference play off on the right foot.
After finishing last season winless in conference, Piper said it is important for the Lady Colonels to avoid a slow start by focusing on the little things that can make or break any team.
“For us, we must transition back defensively and move forward into the attack, organized with numbers,” Piper said. “Southeastern has greatly improved from last season, so we need to be at our best. I believe the girls are ready to show people wrong.”
Leading the Lady Colonels in goals is sophomore midfielder Katherine Peters who has scored three goals this season.
Entering the game, the Lions’ record sits at 5-2-1 overall and 0-0 in the Southland Conference. The Lions scored wins over Jackson State, Troy, Arkansas-Little Rock, Southern University and South Alabama while they tied Louisiana-Lafayette 0-0.
Currently, the Lions are second overall in the Southland Conference with a .688 winning percentage.
The Lady Colonels currently rank first in saves in the conference while the Lady Lions have more shutout victories (six) than all other teams playing in the conference.
Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. in Hammond.
