University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Cajuns Begin 2003 Campaign Friday at LSU Tiger Classic
8/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Cajuns Begin 2003 Campaign Friday at LSU Tiger Classic
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003
Friday's match will be the first of two for the Ragin' Cajuns at the tournament which concludes on Sunday. UL Lafayette will face Coastal Carolina on Sunday at 11 a.m. in its tournament finale. No matches will be played on Saturday.
The Cajuns, opening their season on the road for the fourth straight year, have never won a season opener.
Friday's match will be the beginning of a three-match road trip to open the season and provides the Cajuns with an opportunity to make history.
The Cajuns are meeting Jackson State for the first time. UL Lafayette is 1-0 all-time versus teams from the Southwestern Athletic Conference, defeating Alabama A&M 9-1 on Sept. 17, 2000.
Louisiana-Lafayette defeated Mississippi Valley State 6-0 last Saturday in its lone exhibition match. Junior midfielder Jenny Brown recorded the program's first hat trick and the Cajuns were never threatened by the outmanned Delta Devils outshooting them 49-2.
The Cajuns are coming off of a 6-9-3 season in 2002 and a fourth place finish in the Sun Belt Conference – the highest finish in program history.
Head coach Dave Poggi returns six starters and a total of 12 players from last season's squad while welcoming an additional 14 newcomers.
“One would think after three years that you would just be adding a few players to your roster each year,” Poggi said. “But because the talent level of our team has increased each year and with new players being added, 13 total this year, it's like a brand new year.
“We can't compare ourselves to last year because it's just so new,” Poggi continued. “I am pleased, though, with the effort that all of the players (returnees and newcomers) have put out during our preseason drills.”
“It's been a good preseason,” Poggi said. “We've had a few injuries and have had to deal with the heat, but I think that we are ready for a match and I am looking forward to these two matches at LSU.”
Brown along with sophomore Tiffany Garber are the Cajuns top two returning scorers from last season. Garber leads all returnees with three goals scored last season while Brown has the highest point total of all returnees with nine (2 goals, 5 assists).
The Cajuns main challenge this season will be to find a way to replace half of the offense it lost with the departure of last season's leading scorer Stacy Smith (10 goals) and team captain Sara Vienberg (2 goals, 9 assists) who together combined for 12 of the Cajuns' program-record 24 goals in 2002.
Last week's exhibition gave the Cajuns a glimpse of what to expect this season.
“I was real pleased following the exhibition match with the fact that we had several players who scored,” Poggi commented. “That was the real positive. I don't think we will have to rely on one person like we did last year.
“What the exhibition showed us is that we have a number of people who can score goals,” Poggi added. “We just need to keep working for each other to create those chances and from that the goals will come.”
Look for Brown, Garber and senior Ashley Delahoussaye to be the leading candidates to help the Cajuns generate offense.
On defense, the Cajuns will be anchored by sophomore goalkeeper Liza Preseault. The Bradenton, Fla., native returns after a freshman season in which she set the program record for wins (6) and recorded two solo shutouts and one combined. Her return marks the first time in program history that UL Lafayette returns its starting goalkeeper from the previous season.
Some of the newcomers who could be expected to see playing time include freshmen Lauren Scwhindt and Lindsay Schinwd. Both saw extensive action in the Cajuns exhibition with Schwindt scoring the Cajuns first goal. Fellow freshman Melissa Barger also started in the Cajuns exhibition with MVSU and could see similar action Friday.
Tickets for Friday's match will be available at the gates of the LSU Soccer Complex. For ticket information call the LSU Ticket Office at (225) 578-2184.
Following this weekend's action, the Cajuns will travel to Thibodaux, La., for a 4 p.m. match with Nicholls State on Wednesday, Sept. 3, before making the 2003 home debut on Sunday, Sept. 7 against Southern Mississippi.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
