University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Soccer Looking to Continue Early Success
9/8/2011 7:21:00 PM | Soccer
Off to the greatest start in program history, the UL soccer team continues its 2011 season this weekend with scheduled matches against Mississippi Valley State and McNeese State.
On Friday, the team travels to Itta Bena, Miss., to take on the Devilettes at 6:00 p.m., before returning home to play host to the Cowgirls of McNeese State on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
At 3-1-1, UL is off to a program-best record after the first five games. In 2010, the squad started 3-2-0. Should the Cajuns sweep this weekend, it would mark the first time in program history that the team has posted five wins after seven games.
In a recent media interview head coach Scot Wieland discussed the team's success, “We are excited to be playing so well at home. That was one of our biggest goals was to pick up where we left off last season with the home field momentum.”
The team's biggest success has been directly related to its midfield scoring. Last season, the squad totaled 10 goals on the season from the midfield position, as compared to the six goals in the first five games from Cajun halfbacks. This has seen the team's goals per game average increase to 1.60 as compared to 1.48 in 2010.
“In the past, our midfield has not scored as much,” Wieland said. “Their recent success really gives us a bunch of options.”
The team's strong defense has been tremendous in the early-goings. The starting backline has made life easy for the goalkeeper Amanda Moorefield. This season, Moorefield has only been forced to make an average of four saves a game, which has led to two clean sheets.
Friday's contest with Mississippi Valley State will see a 0-1-1 Devilettes squad searching for its first win and first goal, upon being shutout in its first two contests. The Cajuns hold a 2-0 series advantage including a 4-0 win in Lafayette last season. Louisiana has never surrendered a goal to MVSU.
McNeese State (2-4-0) enters Sunday afternoon's game having already squared off with two Sun Belt teams. The Cowgirls are 1-1-0 against the SBC, upon dropping a 2-1 overtime game to UALR, before rebounding to defeat La.-Monroe 3-0. Louisiana is 4-1-3 in the all-time series with McNeese. UL won 1-0 last season in Lake Charles.
“I tell our girls every weekend we have to go out and get better,” Wieland said. “No matter what it is we have to find something to improve upon.
“This weekend our biggest goal is to play a full 90 minutes. We have played well, but there have been times we have not been as sharp as we need to be.”
Post-game coverage of both games will be available on RaginCajuns.com.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
