HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana women's soccer team will look to start conference play 3-0 this weekend when they hit the road to face Abilene Christian (5-3) Friday night at 7 p.m. in Abilene, Texas and Sunday when they travel to San Antonio, Texas to take on Incarnate Word (0-5-1) at 11 a.m.
 
SLU (4-2-1) is coming off a conference opening win against McNeese at Strawberry Stadium 2-1 last Friday night highlighted by goals from freshmen Brogan Bernadas and Jamie Raines.
 
The Lady Lions have featured a balanced offensive attack through the first seven matches. Twelve different players have scored for SLU including Christina Cutura (4), Bernadas (3), Megan Gordon (2), Raines (2), Payton Colson (2), Jessi Cooper, Amber Marinero, Chloe Gallo, Mia Milton, Dalton Fish, and Aubree Dillon.
 
While SLU's offense has been strong, Friday night should be a defensive battle. Southeastern has been tremendous against opponents' attacks as they rank second in the Southland Conference in goals allowed (7), four of which came in a loss to North Texas Aug. 27, behind Friday's opponent. Abilene Christian has allowed just six goals in eight matches including four shutouts.
 
"Abilene's defensive speaks for itself," said SLU soccer head coach Chris McBride. "They are a very good team that defends as a unit and it makes it very hard for teams to break them down."
 
After Friday's match, the Lady Lions will make the four hour bus ride to San Antonio to face Incarnate Word. UIW, under first year head coach and former Lady Lions assistant Emma Wright-Cates, has played a tough non-conference including Pac-12 California and St. Mary's (CA).
 
"With a new coach their players are motivated to play well," said McBride. "They will be on their home field and it is always tough to play away from home so we will need to be ready to go."
 
Links for live stats and video are available for Friday and Sunday's matches on the women's soccer schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
SCORE ONE MORE CLUB/S CLUB
 
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the women's soccer program are encouraged to join the Score One More Club.  Lion alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to Score One More Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern soccer program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Soccer, follow @SLUSoccer and @chrismcbride88 on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.