University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Sunday, August 23
Lafayette
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
Northwestern State
Louisiana Battles Northwestern State In Sunday Soccer
8/22/2026 11:08:00 PM | Soccer
In-state opponents set to meet for 20th time on the pitch
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Soccer team returns to the action for the final time before classes begin for the fall semester when it plays host to in-state opponent Northwestern State on Sunday for "Welcome Back Night" at the Home Bank Soccer and Track Complex.
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Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Admission to all Louisiana home matches is free and the University's Clear Bag Policy is in effect. Fans can follow updates on the program's social channels (X, Facebook, Instagram) along with live stats at CajunStats.Statbroadcast.com.
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Louisiana (1-1-1), which begins classes on Monday, faces the third of five Southland Conference schools on its schedule after opening the season with a 4-1 win at Southeastern Louisiana before rallying in the second half for a 3-3 draw at East Texas A&M.
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The meeting with Northwestern State (0-3-0) – the Southland Conference Preseason favorite – is the 20th career meeting between the schools with Louisiana holding a 10-8-1 lead. The teams battled to a 1-1 draw in last year's meeting in Natchitoches as Kurihara scored late in the 89th minute to force the tie.
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Carson Glenn, Miku Kurihara and Maria Reyes each scored goals for Louisiana, with Kurihara scoring her third goal in as many matches. The Ragin' Cajuns have scored eight goals through their first three contests while posting seven assists.
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Natalie Mayes became the fourth goalkeeper in program history to record 4,000 career minutes (4,039) against East Texas A&M and moved past Mackenzie Lee (4,035) for third place on the all-time list. The senior also moved past Anne Corbello (144) into seventh place on the Ragin' Cajuns career list with 145 saves after stopping five on-goal attempts against the Lions.
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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.
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Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsSOC), Instagram (@RaginCajuns_SOC) and Facebook (Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Soccer) or check RaginCajuns.com for Louisiana soccer updates.
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MATCH INFORMATION
LOUISIANA (1-1-1) vs. NORTHWESTERN STATE (0-3-0)
Date / Time: August 23, 2026 / 6 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, La.
Stadium: Home Bank Soccer & Track Complex (Grass)
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VIDEO/LIVE STATS/SOCIAL UPDATES
Streaming Video: None
Live Stats: CajunStats.StatBroadcast.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsSOC
Hashtag: #GeauxCajuns
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THE SERIES
Overall – Louisiana leads, 10-8-1
In Lafayette – Louisiana leads, 7-4-0
In Natchitoches – NSU leads, 4-3-1
Last 10 Matches – Louisiana, 7-2-1
Streak - +0
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THE OPPONENT
• Northwestern State has opened the season with a rugged non-conference schedule, facing Oklahoma, LSU and Houston.
• The Demons have been outscored 19-0 in their first three matches and outshot, 71-7.
• NSU was picked to finish first in the Southland Conference preseason poll and received seven of the 11 first-place votes in voting by the coaches of the conference institutions.
• Riley Stern, the longest-tenured Demon and a team captain, is one of four All-SLC performers returning, and is joined by Paige Baumgartner, Hosane Soukou and Emma Pethel.
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CAJUNS BY THE NUMBERS
1 - Wins needed by head coach Chris McBride to move into sole possession of third place on the school's all-time wins list
3 - Wins needed by McBride to move into second place in school history
4 - Total number of goals scored in the team's season-opening win in 2026
6 – Total of Hat Tricks recorded in Ragin' Cajuns history
7 - Number of shutouts in 2024 by Natalie Mayes to set the single-season program record and tie for the SBC lead
7 - Consecutive games without a loss to start last season, setting a program record to start the year and matching the school's overall record
10 - Career goals scored by Miku Kurihara
170 - Number of wins in program history
493 - Total matches played in program history
4,039 - Career minutes in goal for Natalie Mayes, ranking fourth in program history
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UP NEXT
• Louisiana continues its stretch of Southland Conference opponents on Thursday (August 27) for a 7 p.m. match against Nicholls before closing out the month of August with a trip to McNeese (8.30).
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Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Admission to all Louisiana home matches is free and the University's Clear Bag Policy is in effect. Fans can follow updates on the program's social channels (X, Facebook, Instagram) along with live stats at CajunStats.Statbroadcast.com.
Â
Louisiana (1-1-1), which begins classes on Monday, faces the third of five Southland Conference schools on its schedule after opening the season with a 4-1 win at Southeastern Louisiana before rallying in the second half for a 3-3 draw at East Texas A&M.
Â
The meeting with Northwestern State (0-3-0) – the Southland Conference Preseason favorite – is the 20th career meeting between the schools with Louisiana holding a 10-8-1 lead. The teams battled to a 1-1 draw in last year's meeting in Natchitoches as Kurihara scored late in the 89th minute to force the tie.
Â
Carson Glenn, Miku Kurihara and Maria Reyes each scored goals for Louisiana, with Kurihara scoring her third goal in as many matches. The Ragin' Cajuns have scored eight goals through their first three contests while posting seven assists.
Â
Natalie Mayes became the fourth goalkeeper in program history to record 4,000 career minutes (4,039) against East Texas A&M and moved past Mackenzie Lee (4,035) for third place on the all-time list. The senior also moved past Anne Corbello (144) into seventh place on the Ragin' Cajuns career list with 145 saves after stopping five on-goal attempts against the Lions.
Â
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.
Â
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsSOC), Instagram (@RaginCajuns_SOC) and Facebook (Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Soccer) or check RaginCajuns.com for Louisiana soccer updates.
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MATCH INFORMATION
LOUISIANA (1-1-1) vs. NORTHWESTERN STATE (0-3-0)
Date / Time: August 23, 2026 / 6 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, La.
Stadium: Home Bank Soccer & Track Complex (Grass)
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VIDEO/LIVE STATS/SOCIAL UPDATES
Streaming Video: None
Live Stats: CajunStats.StatBroadcast.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsSOC
Hashtag: #GeauxCajuns
Â
THE SERIES
Overall – Louisiana leads, 10-8-1
In Lafayette – Louisiana leads, 7-4-0
In Natchitoches – NSU leads, 4-3-1
Last 10 Matches – Louisiana, 7-2-1
Streak - +0
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THE OPPONENT
• Northwestern State has opened the season with a rugged non-conference schedule, facing Oklahoma, LSU and Houston.
• The Demons have been outscored 19-0 in their first three matches and outshot, 71-7.
• NSU was picked to finish first in the Southland Conference preseason poll and received seven of the 11 first-place votes in voting by the coaches of the conference institutions.
• Riley Stern, the longest-tenured Demon and a team captain, is one of four All-SLC performers returning, and is joined by Paige Baumgartner, Hosane Soukou and Emma Pethel.
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CAJUNS BY THE NUMBERS
1 - Wins needed by head coach Chris McBride to move into sole possession of third place on the school's all-time wins list
3 - Wins needed by McBride to move into second place in school history
4 - Total number of goals scored in the team's season-opening win in 2026
6 – Total of Hat Tricks recorded in Ragin' Cajuns history
7 - Number of shutouts in 2024 by Natalie Mayes to set the single-season program record and tie for the SBC lead
7 - Consecutive games without a loss to start last season, setting a program record to start the year and matching the school's overall record
10 - Career goals scored by Miku Kurihara
170 - Number of wins in program history
493 - Total matches played in program history
4,039 - Career minutes in goal for Natalie Mayes, ranking fourth in program history
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UP NEXT
• Louisiana continues its stretch of Southland Conference opponents on Thursday (August 27) for a 7 p.m. match against Nicholls before closing out the month of August with a trip to McNeese (8.30).
Players Mentioned
Monday, October 27
Monday, October 20
Monday, October 13
Monday, October 06
