Lady Cajuns Soccer 2013

[BeauCajun]

1-4-2...?

They have a young team. Where have I heard that before?

[SMD7636]

Soccer has under performed for years. It's time for a change.

[ZoomZoom]

When it comes to soccer, Louisiana (the state) is not a player on the national stage. Just follow the teams that win state in the upper divisions of youth play. More often than not, they get drummed at the next level. We have/had good local players, but rarely do they even get a sniff at approaching the regional ODP pools, much less the national pool.

Bottom line is UL does not have the resources to hire a top flight soccer coach, nor a recruiting budget. Most players arrive by word of mouth and connections. It is what it is...a necessary title nine program. Not a knock, just a fact. The players play simply for the love of the game.

[Cajun90]

When it comes to soccer, Louisiana (the state) is not a player on the national stage. Just follow the teams that win state in the upper divisions of youth play. More often than not, they get drummed at the next level. We have/had good local players, but rarely do they even get a sniff at approaching the regional ODP pools, much less the national pool.

Bottom line is UL does not have the resources to hire a top flight soccer coach, nor a recruiting budget. Most players arrive by word of mouth and connections. It is what it is...a necessary title nine program. Not a knock, just a fact. The players play simply for the love of the game.

Pretty much on the money. If you want to strengthen the program you will need to develop a pipe line into the DFW area. Louisiana just doesn't produce a large enough talent pool on a consistent basis.

[CajunRed]

Evidently, Nicholls has both the money and the pipeline.

NOT.

[ZoomZoom]

Nicholls finished last in the SLC in 2012. When they hit SLC play this year, they will drop like a rock as in previous years. Which further supports my point.

http://www.southland.org/portals/0/c...2/confsked.htm

[Turbine]

Nicholls finished last in the SLC in 2012. When they hit SLC play this year, they will drop like a rock as in previous years. Which further supports my point.

http://www.southland.org/portals/0/c...2/confsked.htm

So how does a nine year stable program lose to them?

And what did they do to get off to such a hot start this year after such a poor showing last?

[ZoomZoom]

First part, look at our non conference games. Other than Ole Miss, we played Jacksonville State, SLU, Southern, Northwestern (La.), Tech and Nicholls. SLU is the best of bunch based on last year. Our program has celebrated making the conference tournament in the past. Besides, I can't agree the program has been stable as in terms of improvement. In a good year, we still have a lower tier SBC program.

Nicholls winning this year...simple. Nicholls has played Southern, USA, ULM, Prairie View, Mississippi Valley and Cajuns. They have played nobody in terms of strong teams (yes, that includes us). As weak as UL's schedule is, this is worse.

This is a non revenue sport in the truest sense of the phrase. Soccer and volleyball are the two hardest sports to commit to in college. Long bus rides out of state for road games on weekends while your friends are back home possibly tailgating and partying at the football game. It takes true commitment to play these two sports. Throw in the fact that if an instate player qualifies for TOPS, that is where the scholarship is paid, killing that incentive.

Coaches have a hard job when it comes to obtaining players, simple as that. I admire them for keeping the boat afloat.

[UL Ragin Jason]

Commitment from players and family...I married a former soccer player and remember missing the first half of a lot of Saints' games!

[Turbine]

First part, look at our non conference games. Other than Ole Miss, we played Jacksonville State, SLU, Southern, Northwestern (La.), Tech and Nicholls. SLU is the best of bunch based on last year. Our program has celebrated making the conference tournament in the past. Besides, I can't agree the program has been stable as in terms of improvement. In a good year, we still have a lower tier SBC program.

Nicholls winning this year...simple. Nicholls has played Southern, USA, ULM, Prairie View, Mississippi Valley and Cajuns. They have played nobody in terms of strong teams (yes, that includes us). As weak as UL's schedule is, this is worse.

This is a non revenue sport in the truest sense of the phrase. Soccer and volleyball are the two hardest sports to commit to in college. Long bus rides out of state for road games on weekends while your friends are back home possibly tailgating and partying at the football game. It takes true commitment to play these two sports. Throw in the fact that if an instate player qualifies for TOPS, that is where the scholarship is paid, killing that incentive.

Coaches have a hard job when it comes to obtaining players, simple as that. I admire them for keeping the boat afloat.

Interesting and depressing at the same time.

So schedule wise, common opponent Southern;
UL tied 1-1
Nicholls smashed them 8-1

Can I read anything into that? . . . other than getting beat by them last night probably should not have come as a surprise even if I had looked at their record last year?

[ulforlife]

We should hire Nicholls' coach, they're doing pretty well with what is probably less

[NewsCopy]

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns will finish up a surprise eight-game homestand with matches against Prairie View A&M and Mississippi Valley State on Friday and Sunday at the Cajuns Soccer Complex.

The rest of the story

UL-SI