Lady Cajuns Soccer 2003

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BATON ROUGE — Louisiana's Lady Cajuns soccer program will begin the fourth season of its existence here today in a 5 p.m. match against Jackson State in the first day of action at the LSU Tiger Classic being held at the LSU Soccer Complex today and Sunday.

Today’s match will be the first of two for the Ragin’ Cajuns at the tournament which concludes on Sunday. Louisiana will face Coastal Carolina on Sunday at 11 a.m. in its tournament finale. No matches will be played on Saturday.

The Cajuns, opening their season on the road for the fourth straight year, have never won a season opener.

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Louisiana wins easy with 10-0 Soccer Victory

BATON ROUGE – Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns women’s soccer team scored a school record 10 goals en route to an easy 10-0 victory over the Jackson State Tigers Friday evening in the first day of the LSU Tiger Classics here at the LSU Soccer Complex.

Box score was not available at press time.

The win also marked the first season-opening victory for the Lady Cajuns since the program’s inception in 2000.

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns will return to action Saturday at 11 a.m. when they take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the final day of the LSU Tiger Classics.

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Louisiana opens their 2003 home schedule on September 7 against Southern Miss at 1 p.m.

LOUISIANA La. - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's soccer team will look to remain undefeated early on in the 2003 season when they take on Coastal Carolina Sunday at 11 a.m. here on the final day of the Tiger Classics at the LSU Soccer Complex.

On Friday, UL (1-0) crushed Jackson State 10-0 in the first match on the tournament setting the school record for goals and recording the program's first-ever season-opening win.

Lafayette natives Ainsley Breaux and Ashley Delahoussaye each scored two goals in the contest. A total of eight Cajuns contributed goals in the win.

In the night cap of Friday's action, Coastal Carolina (0-1) dropped a 2-1 decision to host-LSU, losing the match on a goal in the 89th minute.

Louisiana and CCU will be meeting for the first time.

The Chanticleers were 8-6-4 last season - posting the first winning season in program history. CCU returns nine starters from that squad and a total of 18 lettermen.


Following Sunday's match, the Cajuns will visit Nicholls State on Wednesday, Sept. 3 for a 4 p.m. match before opening the 2003 home slate on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. against Southern Mississippi.

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Chanticleers slip past Louisiana on a goal in 36th minute

BATON ROUGE - Coastal Carolina's Laura Weiler scored the breakthrough goal in the 36th minute and goalkeeper Candice Doten made it stand as Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's soccer team fell inches short in its attempt for a 2-0 start to the season, dropping a 1-0 decision to CCU in each team's finale here Sunday morning at the LSU Tiger Classic.

The two teams played scoreless until Weiler's goal at the 36:56 mark of the first half - a score which proved to be the match-winning goal.

After receiving a pass from midfield she dribbled around Cajuns defender Jessica Wallace inside the box and beat Liza Preseault, who was out of position attempting to cover for Wallace, for an open-net, tap-in goal.

"We got caught flat on our end of the field," said Louisiana coach Dave Poggi. "Liza (Preseault) came off her line quickly to cover for Jessica (Wallace) and (Laura) Weiler basically pushed it around Liza for an open-net goal."

The Cajuns could muster just three shots on goal with Lindsay Webb providing two of them. Louisiana's lack of opportunities was a direct result of the Cajuns playing against the flow of the match for much of the opening half.

"The second half was an even one," Poggi said. "There was a span of about 20 minutes where we put a lot of pressure on them, keeping the ball on their side of the field.

"But it was that final pass or touch where they came up big defensively or we just ran out of gas and didn't have anything to show for how much pressure we were putting on them."

Louisiana also failed to cash in on six corner kick opportunities - including four in the second frame.

The Cajuns had a late chance to tie the match, but Rachel Rozelle's attempt was stopped by Doten to preserve the clean sheet.

"Both teams fought hard and it was a clean match," Poggi added. "It was a good test for us this early in the season. These are the kinds of matches which make you better."

True freshmen Melissa Barger and Lauren Schwindt were the Cajuns representatives on the all-tournament team.

Louisiana completed the tournament with a 1-1 record and a third-place finish.

The Cajuns will now turn their attention to a match at Nicholls State (0-2) on Wednesday in Thibodaux at 4 p.m. The Colonels dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to Southern Mississippi Friday and fell 3-0 to Tulane Sunday at the Tulane Invitational.

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MATCH SUMMARY
Date: Aug. 31, 2003
Site: Baton Rouge, La. (LSU Soccer Complex)

Goals by Period          P1   P2    Total

Louisiana (1-1)          0    0       0

Coastal Carolina (1-1)   1    0       1

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 36:56 CCU Weiler, Laura (Stirton, April)

Shots: Louisiana 7, CCU 19
Shots on Goal: Louisiana 3, CCU 10
Saves: Louisiana 9 (Preseault, Liza), CCU 3 (Doten, Candice)
Fouls: Louisiana 10, CCU 16
Corner Kicks: Louisiana 6, CCU 3
Yellow Cards/Ejections: None
Offsides: Louisiana 0, CCU 3LOUISIANA SI

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Louisiana makes first trip to Thibodaux

THIBODAUX - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's soccer team will conclude its season-opening, three-match road trip here Wednesday in a 4 p.m. match against Nicholls State at the NSU Soccer Field.

The Cajuns (1-1) split a pair of matches last weekend at the Tiger Classics in Baton Rouge posting a record-breaking 10-0 win over Jackson State in the opener before dropping a 1-0 decision to Coastal Carolina on Sunday.

Louisiana received a balanced-scoring attack in the JSU win as eight different players scored at least one goal. The Cajuns will look to get the offense back on track after letting Sunday's match with Coastal Carolina slip away.

Nicholls State (0-2) dropped a pair of matches last weekend at the Tulane Invitational in New Orleans and will be making its home debut.

The Colonels lost their season opener last Friday to Southern Mississippi 2-1 in overtime as the Golden Eagles scored with three minutes left in the 10-minute overtime period. Then on Sunday, NSU kept Tulane scoreless for 73-plus minutes of the match before the Green Wave erupted for three goals over the next nine minutes.

"We know that they are coming off of a weekend where they played well and just didn't have the bounces go their way," said Louisiana coach Dave Poggi. "They're a good team, much improved from last year when we played them and will provide a good challenge for us.

"I expect this to be a difficult match," Poggi added. "We've never played there so we are unfamiliar with the facility. The only real known is that it's going to be a tough match and we are looking forward to it."

Wednesday's match will be the second in as many years between the two in-state rivals. UL holds a 1-0 edge in the series.

Last year, the Cajuns posted a 4-0 win at Cajun Field in a rain-soaked contest on Sept. 24. Louisiana scored four first-half goals and was never tested by the Colonels outshooting them 35-3.

The Ragin' Cajuns will be shooting for the best three-match start in program history. Louisiana is 3-11-1 all-time versus other in-state schools.

On the injury front, sophomore midfielder Kristina Klausen, who missed both matches last weekend, is still doubtful for Wednesday's tilt. The Denmark native is suffering from a minor knee injury which occurred in the Cajuns exhibition against Mississippi Valley State Aug. 23.

Senior forward Ashley Delahoussaye is questionable as well after aggravating a past knee injury.

Following Wednesday's match, the Cajuns will be off for three days before making the 2003 regular season home debut on Sunday, Sept. 7 in a 1 p.m. match with Conference-USA member Southern Mississippi.

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Lafayette native Tiffany Garber scores both goals

THIBODAUX - Sophomore midfielder Tiffany Garber recorded the first multi-goal performance of her career, including the match-winning goal, as Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's soccer team picked up a 2-1 overtime victory over host-Nicholls State here on Wednesday afternoon.

Garber tallied both goals in the match for the Ragin' Cajuns (2-1) while true freshman Lauren Schwindt had the assist each time for the first two assists of her career.

Garber became the sixth Cajuns player to score two goals in a regular season match and the third this season - Ainsely Breaux and Ashley Delahoussaye each scored twice against Jackson State last Friday. The second goal was the fifth of her young career.

Garber's tallies helped the Cajuns erase a 1-0, second-half deficit. Nicholls State (0-3) struck first in the second frame after both teams played to a scoreless tie in the first half.

Garber's first goal came from just inside the penalty box on a shot that beat NSU goalkeeper Lindsay Bartlett to her left to tie the match 1-1.

The second goal found the back of the net with less than three minutes remaining in the first overtime period as she beat Bartlett to her lower right-hand side.

The win improved the Cajuns to 2-1 on the young season - the best three-match start in program history. It was also UL's second win in as many seasons over the Colonels and the Cajuns second straight overtime victory.

"It was the first overtime match of the season for us," said head coach Dave Poggi. "I was pleased that we executed as well as we did and were able to come away with a result.

"This match could have gone either way," Poggi added. "Nicholls (State) is a much improved compared to last year. We were fortunate to get the bounces to go in our favor."

Liza Preseault got the start in net for the Cajuns and played the entire match picking up her second win of the season.

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Louisiana will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 7 in a 1 p.m. match against Southern Mississippi (1-0-1) at Cajun Field. The Golden Eagles play at Samford Friday night.

The Cajuns will play four of their next five matches at Cajun Field, featuring a three-match homestand Sept. 14-21 against in-state rivals Louisiana-Monroe, LSU and McNeese State.

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Cajuns off to best start in program history

LOUISIANA La. - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's soccer team will open its 2003 regular season home slate Sunday in a 1 p.m. match with Conference USA-member Southern Mississippi at Cajun Field.

The Ragin' Cajuns (2-1) enter Sunday's match off to the best start in the four-year history of the program.

UL is coming off of a 2-1 overtime win over Nicholls State Wednesday.

Louisiana will be playing the first of 10 matches to be held at Cajun Field this season. The Cajuns are also beginning a stretch where they will play four of the next five matches on their home turf.

The Cajuns feature a balanced attack which helped them set the program record for goals in the season opener. Nine different players have scored at least one goal and three have tallied two in a match.

Lafayette natives Ainsley Breaux, Ashley Delahoussaye and Tiffany Garber lead the offense with two goals each.

The Cajuns defensive efforts are fortified by the solid play of sophomore goalkeeper Liza Preseault. Through three matches, the second-year netminder has allowed only two goals.

Southern Mississippi enters Sunday's match off to a 2-0-1 start. The Golden Eagles defeated Samford 1-0 Friday night on a goal in the 63rd minute by Carly Barkley.

The two teams have one common opponent - Nicholls State. Just as the Cajuns did earlier this week, Southern Mississippi defeated Nicholls State 2-1 in overtime last Friday in its season opener.

Sunday's meeting is the first all-time between the two programs. UL and USM were supposed to meet last season on Oct. 4 but the passage of Hurricane Lili forced the cancellation of the tilt.

UL is 1-2 all-time in home openers and 0-1 in Cajun Field openers. Last season Northwestern State downed the Cajuns 4-2 in the first match held at the stadium.

Tickets to Sunday's matinee will be sold at the Cajun Field gate A entrance. The prices are $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-16. Louisiana students with a valid ID will be admitted free of charge.

Following Sunday's match, the Ragin' Cajuns will return to action on Friday, Sept. 12 in a 4:30 p.m. match at Northwestern State in Natchitoches. The next home match will be on Sunday, Sept. 14 against UL Monroe at 1 p.m.

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Louisiana falls in home opener for third straight season

LOUISIANA La.- Southern Miss forward Carly Barkley broke a scoreless tie by directing a rebound off of Louisiana's Meredith Smith at 61:43 and the Golden Eagles went on to post a 2-0 win here Sunday afternoon at Cajun Field, spoiling the 2003 regular season home opener for the Ragin' Cajuns.

Barkley's breakthrough goal was set up off of a corner kick by USM's Kay Beth Costilow. Costilow's corner sailed in and found Katie Randolph who directed a shot toward the Cajuns goal but was blocked by Smith for a save.

However the ball ricocheted off of Smith and found a wide open Barkley who booted a shot past Cajuns goalkeeper Liza Preseault for a 1-0 lead and the match-winner. For Barkley, who scored the Golden Eagles lone goal in a 1-0 win over Samford Friday, it was her second straight match-winning goal.

USM (3-0-1) would add one more score for good measure seven minutes later. Randolph sent in a cross from the right side that connected with Lauren Prewitt and she promptly sent in a header that beat an outstretched Preseault at 68:11 for a 2-0 advantage.

UL (2-2) had its opportunities in the opening frame including a chance to take the lead.

With the half coming to a close, Smith sent a pass from midfield that found * Brown who scooted past a USM defender and had Golden Eagles goalkeeper Anna Snyder beat but the shot hit the right post and bounced out-of-bounds.

USM had its chance early when Micah Stephens broke through in the box, but her shot bounced off the crossbar and out of harms way.

As a result the two teams went into the locker room knotted at 0-0. It marked the third straight match that the Cajuns failed to score in the first half.

The loss handed the Cajuns their third straight home-opening defeat. UL is now 1-3 all-time in such contests.

Louisiana also suffered its third straight setback at Cajun Field dating back to last season. USM's shutout extended the Cajuns scoreless streak at Cajun Field to 266:44 dating back to last season's Oct. 18 match with North Texas.

USM outshot UL 20-12 led by seven shots from Prewitt. Tiffany Garber led all Cajuns with six shots and four shots on goal.

Liza Preseault made the start in goal for the Cajuns and fell to 2-2 on the season with the loss. She was replaced by backup goaltender Anna Brannon with 11:04 remaining in the match.

The Cajuns return to action on Friday, Sept. 12 in a 4:30 p.m. match at Northwestern State in Natchitoches. The next home match is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. versus UL Monroe.


MATCH SUMMARY
Southern Mississippi at Louisiana
Date: Sept. 7, 2003
Site: Lafayette, La. (Cajun Field)
Att: 117

Goals by period 1 2 Tot
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Southern Mississippi 0 2 - 2
Louisiana-Lafayette. 0 0 - 0

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 61:43 USM Barkley, Carly (Randolph, Katie)
2. 68:11 USM Prewitt, Lauren (Randolph, Katie)

Shots: USM 20, UL 12
Shots on Goal: USM 10, UL 7
Saves: USM 7 (Snyder 6; TEAM 1), UL 8 (Preseault 6, Brannon 1,
TEAM 1)
Fouls: USM 14, UL 6
Corner Kicks: USM 3, UL 3
Yellow Cards/Ejections: None
Offsides: USM 2, UL 0

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Louisiana records first win over NSU

NATCHITOCHES - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's soccer team took advantage of its opportunities while Northwestern State didn't.

As a result, the visiting Ragin' Cajuns came away with a 2-1 win over the Demons here Friday afternoon at the Demon Soccer Complex avenging three years worth of frustration and recording their first win in the series between the two schools.

UL improved to 3-2 on the season and avenged a 4-2 loss to NSU last season at Cajun Field. NSU dropped to 1-4 on the season and 0-2 at home.

The Cajuns also improved to 2-0 this season on the opponent's home field with the win. UL has now won their last five matches on the opposing team's home field dating back to last season's 3-1 win at Arkansas-Little Rock on Oct. 13.

After the two teams battled to a scoreless first half tie, * Brown tallied her first goal of the season at 51:33 to put the Cajuns in front 1-0.

After being denied four times in the opening frame the Cajuns were finally able to push a shot past NSU goalkeeper and Lafayette native Nellie Latiolais. In fact, both of UL's second-half shots on goal resulted in goals.

Tiffany Garber scored her team-leading third goal of the season 22 minutes later to give the Cajuns a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Garber hooked a soft liner from the right wing at Latiolais who opted tom allow the shot to bounce in front of her. The ball took an odd hop and slipped through Latiolais' hands, off her arm and rolled into the net for a 2-0 Ragin' Cajun advantage.

Garber's goal would eventually become the match-winning one as the Demon's Stephanie Miller picked up a loose ball and beat UL Anna Brannon at 86:30 to trim the lead to 2-1.

Brannon would hold off two good scoring chances by NSU in the final minutes to help the Cajuns avoid an overtime session and preserve the win.

Brannon, who starred at nearby Acadiana High, was making her first career start at the NCAA Division I level. The freshman goalkeeper made six saves including five in the second half.

Liza Preseault, the Cajuns No. 1 goalkeeper, did not start in goal for the first time in her career ending a streak of 22 matches with a start.


Louisiana will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 14 in a 1 p.m. match against in-state rival UL Monroe at Cajun Field. Sunday's match marks the beginning of a three-match homestand for the Cajuns which runs through the following Sunday.

The Cajuns will also be hosting Youth Soccer Day on Sunday as well. All area youth soccer players will be admitted free of charge provided they are wearing a team uniform.


MATCH SUMMARY
Louisiana at Northwestern State
Date: Sept. 12, 2003
Site: Natchitoches, La. (Demon Soccer Complex)
Att: 133 Time: 1:15

Goals by Period 1 2 Total
UL Lafayette (3-2) 0 2 2
Northwestern State (1-4) 0 1 1

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 51:33 UL Brown, * (Schwindt, Lauren)
2. 73:33 UL Garber, Tiffany (unassisted)
3. 86:30 NSU Miller, Stephanie (unassisted)

Shots: UL 12, NW STATE 22
Shots on Goal: UL Lafayette 6, NW STATE 7
Saves: UL 6 (Brannon), NW STATE 4 (Latiolais)
Fouls: UL 9, NW STATE 12
Corner Kicks: UL 3, NW STATE 3
Yellow Cards: UL 1 (Crawford, 41:59)
Offsides: UL 0, NW STATE 6