Soccer Opens Season On The Road Against Southland Foes

Match 1 - Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns at Sam Houston State Bearkats
Live Stats
Date: August 22
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Pritchett Field - Huntsville, Texas

Match 2 - Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns at Southeastern Louisiana Lions
Live Stats: N/A
Date: August 24
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Southeastern Soccer Complex - Hammond, La.

LAFAYETTE, La. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns soccer team kicks off the 2014 season this weekend against two Southland Conference opponents. Louisiana opens the season Friday with a 6:30 p.m. match against Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas, before traveling to Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday for a 4 p.m. contest in Hammond.

A Look Into The Season
The Ragin' Cajuns have much to be excited about heading into the program's 15^th season. Returning 17 letterwinners and coming off its best season (8-7-3) in program history, Louisiana is a strong contender for the Sun Belt Conference Championship. After being just one goal from a regular season title in 2013, the Ragin' Cajuns were picked second after receiving 81 points in the 2014 SBC Preseason Poll, behind last year's conference champion South Alabama, who totaled 98 points.

Leading the League
When the Sun Belt Conference released their preseason all-conference team Monday, the Ragin' Cajuns saw they had a league-high three preseason selections among the 11 individuals recognized. Senior defender Grace Howell-Harries highlighted the accolades, being named SBC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after earning the honor following the 2013 season. Joining Howell-Harries were sophomore forwards Yazmin Montoya and Annika Schmidt, who are also coming off all-conference campaigns. South Alabama, Georgia State, Arkansas State and Texas State each placed two players on the all-conference squad alongside the Cajuns trio.

A Youthful Roster
With 33 players listed on the 2014 roster, just seven are upperclassmen. Last season, Louisiana also sported a young roster with five upperclassmen among the 27 Ragin' Cajuns. The squad welcomed a slew of newcomers this season with 13 freshmen along with junior college transfer Lindsey Stocks (Mt. San Antonio).

Scouting the Bearkats
Sam Houston State also returns a majority of its squad for the upcoming season, bringing back 18 letterwinners and 10 starters from a 9-11-1 team in 2013. The Bearkats, who were picked to finish third in the SLC behind Stephen F. Austin and Southeastern Louisiana, had three players pick up preseason all-conference honors with junior midfielder Mariah Titus earning first team accolades. Titus led SHSU with 17 points last season with eight goals and one assist in 21 games played and 17 starts.

Scouting the Lions
Coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2013, Southeastern Louisiana brings back 19 letterwinners from their 14-4-5 season. Last year, Southeastern took a 2-1 double overtime win over Louisiana in Lafayette with a goal by Kelsey Salcido off a corner kick in the 106^th minute. The Lions were picked second in the Southland Conference behind Stephen F. Austin as both teams placed six players on the preseason all-conference squad. Sophomore forward Bri Singh led the Lions last season with nine goals and was second on the team with 20 points.

Position Preview: Forwards
Returning: Yazmin Montoya (West Covina, Calif.), Annika Schmidt (Nufringen, Germany), Elizabeth Manuel (Mandeville, La.), MacKenzie Higgins (Commerce Township, Mich.)
Newcomers: Haley Boroch (Ontario, Calif.), Danielle DeRosa (Rocklin, Calif.), Denice Emokpae (Sugar Land, Texas)

Louisiana has a mix of returners and newcomers at forward for the 2014 season. All-Sun Belt First Team pick Yazmin Montoya and All-SBC Second Team selection Annika Schmidt combined for 23 of Louisiana's 35 goals in 2013. Montoya had a record-breaking season, setting single-season records in goals (13), points (31), shots (86) and shots on goal (38). Schmidt totaled 23 points, becoming the first Ragin' Cajun to record multiple hat tricks and was the fastest player in program history to tally 20 points, eclipsing that mark in just 10 matches. Louisiana also welcomes back junior Elizabeth Manuel, who appeared in all 18 matches for the Ragin' Cajuns in 2013 as well as MacKenzie Higgins, who played in 17 contests.

The additions of freshmen Haley Boroch, Danielle DeRosa and Denice Emokpae will add to the squad's strength at the position as all three saw much playing time during Louisiana's exhibition match against Southern Miss last Friday.

Position Preview: Midfielders
Returning: Tina Sanchez (Chino Hills, Calif.), Caroline Trahan (Lafayette, La.), Ashley Gussoni (Covington, La.), Kimberly Grasso (Houma, La.), Bailey Scott (Aledo, Texas), Natalie Newman (Arlington, Texas), Lindsay Brammer (Boynton Beach, Fla.)
Newcomers: Whitney Taggart (Centennial, Colo.), Hannah Alba (Las Vegas, Nev.), Natalie Lebamoff (Huntertown, Ind.), Jorgie Smith (Fair Oaks, Calif.), Madison Duncan (Troy, Mich.), Taylor Kemmeling (Cumming, Ga.), Ashleigh Cade (Bonney Lake, Wash.)

The Ragin' Cajuns will have much depth in the midfield this season, led by senior Tina Sanchez, junior Caroline Trahan, sophomore Kimberly Grasso and sophomore Natalie Newman, who all logged over 1,000 minutes on the pitch in 2013. Also returning for the Cajuns midfield will be junior Ashley Gussoni, sophomore Bailey Scott and sophomore Lindsay Brammer.

Louisiana also adds seven players to the midfield in 2014 with the additions of Whitney Taggart, Hannah Alba, Natalie Lebamoff, Jorgie Smith, Madison Duncan, Taylor Kemmeling and Ashleigh Cade. With a total of 14 players, the Ragin' Cajuns will be able to turn to a variety of players in order to create opportunities for Louisiana this season.

Position Preview: Defenders
Returning: Grace Howell-Harries (London, Ontario, Canada), Claire Ruehle (Houston, Texas), Mary Walters (Denver, Colo.), Taylor Kennedy (Lafayette, La.), Carly Ellender (Houma, La.), Olivia Frace (El Dorado Hills, Calif.)
Newcomers: Mikayla Ahlin (Las Vegas, Nev.), Courtney Angelini (Pompano Beach, Fla.), Rebecca Foley (Coral Springs, Fla.)

Led by SBC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Grace Howell-Harries, the Ragin' Cajuns have much experience returning at defender in 2014. Howell-Harries has led Louisiana the past three seasons, earning all-conference honors during her freshman and junior campaigns. Returning Ragin' Cajuns include sophomore Mary Walters, who appeared in all 18 matches in 2013 with 17 starts, as well as junior Claire Ruehle, who started all 16 matches she played in last season. Sophomores Carly Ellender, Taylor Kennedy and Olivia Frace also return for the Ragin' Cajuns this season. Ellender totaled five points last season and was among the top leaders in assists with three.

The Ragin' Cajuns will also welcome freshmen Mikayla Ahlin, Courtney Angelini and Rebecca Foley at defender to provide more depth for the team.

Position Preview: Goalkeepers
Returning: Alexias Stricklin (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), Kristal Breaux (Des Allemands, La.)
Newcomers: Lindsey Stocks (Cypress, Calif.)

After the loss of two goalkeepers that each recorded more than 800 minutes between the posts, Louisiana will turn to a new goalie for the 2014 season. The Ragin' Cajuns return redshirt freshmen Alexias Stricklin and Kristal Breaux, and welcome junior college transfer Lindsey Stocks from Mt. San Antonio Junior College. Stricklin and Stocks both saw time on the pitch in the squad's exhibition match against Southern Miss last week.

What's Up Next?
Following Louisiana's two-game road trip to open the season, the Ragin' Cajuns will host McNeese State in their home opener on Friday, Aug. 29 in a 7 p.m. match at the Cajuns Soccer Complex.

-- RaginCajuns.com --

Soccer Opens Season On The Road Against Southland Foes

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