HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana women's soccer team will travel for the first time in 2010 this week, heading to Alabama for a pair of non-conference matches.

The Lady Lions (1-0) will open the week in Troy, Ala. facing the Trojans (1-0) at 4 p.m. on Friday. On Sunday, Southeastern heads to Montgomery, Ala. for a 1 p.m. match with Alabama State (0-1).

Southeastern is returning to the field after opening the season with a 2-0 win over Mississippi Valley State last Friday. Lady Lion sophomores Tabitha McReynolds and Kerry McWhirter each scored second-half goals to lead Southeastern to victory.

Senior midfielder Natalie Santana, sophomore forward Maiya Cooper and sophomore forward Karly Dagys were all credited with assists in last week's win. Santana led the Southland Conference in assists in each of the past two seasons and needs four assists to match the school and league career record held by Southeastern Hall of Famer Becca Weingartner.

Defensively, the back line of senior Brittany Prieto, junior Lauren Crawford, freshman Shanyce Shaw and freshman Kelsey Salcido held MVSU scoreless and kept the Delta Devils to just three shots. All three shots were stopped by junior goalkeeper Lacey Bockhaus.

The shutout was the 22nd of Bockhaus' career, moving the San Leandro, Calif. native closer to the school career record of 24 held by former Lady Lion Nicole Helmig. The Southland mark of 25.5 career shutouts held by former Stephen F. Austin goalie Natascia Michalezki is also in jeopardy.

Bockhaus and company will have their hands full on Friday versus Troy. The Trojans opened up the season with a 6-1 win over Wofford last week. Freshman Maddie Tieken led the way with three goals, while sophomore forward Ruth Sutcliffe dished out a match-high three assists.

Junior goalkeeper Ashley Branham will handle the work in goal for the Trojans. She allowed one goal and had four saves in the season-opening victory.

Southeastern is 7-1-1 all-time versus Troy. Last season, the Trojans took a 1-0 victory over the Lady Lions in Hammond.

Alabama State, which plays at South Alabama on Friday, opened the year with a 6-0 loss to Wofford. The Lady Hornets finished the 2009 season with a 0-16 record.

Southeastern and Alabama State will be meeting for the third time in school history on Sunday. The Lady Lions have won the previous two meetings including a 9-0 victory last season that saw Santana record two goals and three assists.





Following this week's action, Southeastern will return home to host Southern on Sept. 5 at 4 p.m. at the Southeastern Soccer Complex.