Louisiana Opens 2023 Schedule Against Middle Tennessee

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Soccer team officially kicks off the 2023-24 school athletic calendar on Thursday when it faces former Sun Belt Conference rival Middle Tennessee at the Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The contest will be streamed live on ESPN+ with live stats available at CajunStats.com.

Louisiana, under second-year coach Chris McBride, opens its 24^th season of intercollegiate soccer and returns 17 players from last season's squad. Eight starters return for the Ragin' Cajuns, led by fifth-year senior Karleen Bedre, along with seniors Alyssa Abbott and Lucy Ortiz.

Hailly Waterhouse, Penelope Montenegro, Sisley Stephens and Tatum Beck finished among the top scorers behind Bedre in 2022.

Middle Tennessee (2-12-3 in 2022) opens the regular season at home for the third time in four years. The Blue Raiders are 2-2 in regular-season openers during that span and 2-2 in home openers.

Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.

Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsSOC), Instagram (@RaginCajunsSOC) and Facebook (Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Soccer) or check RaginCajuns.com for Louisiana soccer updates.

MATCH INFORMATION
LOUISIANA (3-9-5 in 2022) at MIDDLE TENNESSEE (2-12-3 in 2022)
Date / Time: August 17, 2023/ 7 p.m. CT
Site: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Stadium: Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium (Grass)

THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Chris McBride (Tennessee Southern, 2011)
Record at Louisiana: 3-9-5 (second season); Overall Record: 34-51-20 (seventh season)

MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Head Coach: Aston Rhoden (Alabama-Huntsville, 1989)
Record at MT: 200-136-38 (22nd season); Overall Record: 239-210-39 (27th season)

VIDEO/LIVE STATS/SOCIAL UPDATES
Streaming Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: CajunStats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsSOC
Hashtag: #GeauxCajuns

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: MT leads, 11-2-0
At Lafayette: MT leads, 5-1-0
At Murfreesboro: MT leads, 6-1-0
At Neutral Sites: Never met
Streak: MT +10

SET PIECES
• Louisiana opens its 24th season of intercollegiate soccer when it faces former Sun Belt Conference rival Middle Tennessee in the 2023 opener for both teams.
• The meeting will be the first between the schools since 2012 and the first in Murfreesboro since 2010.
• Louisiana returns 17 players from the 2022 roster and eight starters for second-year coach Chris McBride.
• Before being named the fourth head coach in school history in February of 2022, McBride spent five seasons at in-state program Southeastern Louisiana where he guided the Lady Lions to an NCAA Regional berth.
• The match for Louisiana is its first true road opener since facing Ole Miss in the 2018 season.
Louisiana finished 2-0-0 in its exhibition slate earning road wins over in-state opponents McNeese (2-1) and Northwestern State (1-0).
• The Ragin' Cajuns open with five of their first six regular-season matches on the road.
Louisiana also faces former Sun Belt members Florida Atlantic (Aug. 31) and Florida International (Sept. 3) during the regular season.
• Middle Tennessee has won the last 10 meetings in the series dating back to 2003.
• Louisiana's last win in the series was a 3-1 victory on Oct. 27, 2002 in Murfreesboro.
• Super Senior Karleen Bedre enters the season ranked in the top five in school history in matches started (72), points (55), goals (19), assists (17), match-winning goals (6) and penalty kicks made (2).
• Bedre's five assists in 2022 were tied for the fifth most in a single season in school history.

UP NEXT
Louisiana will return home to host American Athletic Conference member South Florida on Sunday in a 1 p.m. match at the Home Bank Track/Soccer Complex.

Louisiana Opens 2023 Schedule Against Middle Tennessee

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alyssa Abbott

Tatum Beck

Karleen Bedre

Penelope Montenegro

Lucy Ortiz

Sisley Stephens

Hailly Waterhouse

Footer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics