HAMMOND, La. – With the program quickly on the up rise, the 2019 Southeastern Louisiana women's soccer team will face one of the toughest schedules in program history in the pre-conference under third-year SLU soccer head coach Chris McBride.
 
The Lady Lions (7-7-4, 4-4-3 Southland in 2018) are coming off a momentum-building season after returning to the Southland Conference Tournament last season. But the 2019 non-conference schedule will test SLU as they prepare for the conference opener Friday, Sept. 20 at McNeese.
 
"I believe with this schedule we will really learn about the mental skill set that our team possesses," said McBride. "These games are the level of competition of our conference and will really test us early in the season. We'll be challenged physically, technically, tactically and mentally so they are perfect non-conference games." 
 
Southeastern will open the season with three straight home matches against two in-state rivals Louisiana Tech (Aug. 23) and ULM (Aug. 25); and Jackson State (Aug. 30) out of the SWAC.
 
After the early season home stretch, SLU will face SEC runner-up and national quarterfinalist, Tennessee (16-3-3, 7-2-1 SEC in 2018), Thursday, Sept. 5 in Knoxville, Tennessee.  
 
After the showdown with Tennessee, the Lady Lions will return home to face South Alabama, who McBride was an assistant for in 2016, Sunday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m.
 
It won't get any easier for the Lady Lions as they will battle American Athletic Conference Champion, Memphis (17-4, 7-2-0 AAC) Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. on the road. SLU will, then, wrap up the non-conference schedule against reigning Sunbelt Conference Tournament champion Little Rock Saturday, Sept. 14 on the road at 1 p.m.  
 
"Road games are always exciting," said McBride. It is fun visiting another opponent's field and playing at their place as it always increases the intensity of the games. It will be nice to have the first few games at home to allow us to get our new players acquainted with the college environment."
 
The Lady Lions will then get ready for the Southland Conference portion of the schedule. In 2018, SLU showed they can compete with anyone in the conference allowing just 10 goals in 11 matches.
 
After the conference opener at McNeese Sept. 20, the Lady Lions will also face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Houston Baptist, Stephen F. Austin, and Nicholls on the road in Southland play.
 
The home portion of the conference schedule is headlined by reigning conference regular season champion Central Arkansas. The Lady Lions and Bears will face off Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. at Strawberry Stadium. SLU will also face reigning conference tournament champion Abilene Christian, Lamar, Incarnate Word and Northwestern State at Strawberry Stadium.
 
"Our challenge and focus this year will be to improve on our performances and our competitive spirit from last year" said McBride. "There were games we were very competitive in and didn't get the result, and others we were fortunate to get a result after a subpar performance. We will take it one game at a time, focusing on ourselves and making sure we improve every day."
 
The Lady Lions will begin pre-season practice Monday, Aug. 7 at Strawberry Stadium in preparation for the season-opener at home against Louisiana Tech Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
 
2019 Southeastern Women's Soccer Schedule
 
Date       Day        Opponent                                                              Time                      Site
 
8/16        Fri          UL Lafayette       (Exhibition)                             6:00pm                  HAMMOND
 
8/23        Fri          LA Tech                                                              7:00pm                  HAMMOND
                               
8/25        Sun         ULM                                                                   5:00pm                  HAMMOND
                                                                                                                                                               
8/30        Fri          Jackson State                                                      TBA                       HAMMOND                       
                                                                                                                                                                               
9/5          Thu         Tennessee                                                             7:00pm                  Knoxville, TN 
                                                     
9/8          Sun         South Alabama                                                   6:00pm                  HAMMOND
 
9/12        Thurs.     Memphis                                                               7:00pm                  Memphis, Tennessee     
                                    
9/14        Sat.        Little Rock                                                             1:00pm                  Little Rock, Arkansas
                                                                                               
9/20        Fri           McNeese*                                                            7:00pm                  Lake Charles, Louisiana
 
9/27        Fri          Incarnate Word*                                                   7:00pm                  HAMMOND
 
9/29        Sun         Abilene Christian*                                               1:00pm                  HAMMOND
 
10/4        Fri           Houston Baptist*                                                   7:00pm                   Houston, Texas
 
10/6        Sun         Texas AM-Corpus Christi*                                       1:00pm                  Corpus Christi, Texas        
 
10/11     Fri          Lamar*                                                                   7:00pm                  HAMMOND
 
10/18     Fri           Sam Houston*                                                         7:00pm                  Huntsville, Texas
 
10/20     Sun         Stephen F. Austin *                                                  1:00pm                  Nacogdoches, Texas
               
10/25     Fri          Central Arkansas*                                                  7:00pm                  HAMMOND
 
10/27     Sun         Northwestern State*                                              1:00pm                  HAMMOND
 
11/1        Fri           Nicholls State*                                                        4:00pm                  Thibodaux, Louisiana
 
11/7        Thurs      Southland Tournament                                          TBA                       Conway, Arkansas
                               
11/8        Fri           Southland Tournament                                         TBA                       Conway Arkansas
               
11/10     Sun         Southland Tournament                                          TBA                       Conway, Arkansas
 
Home Matches in Bold
*Southland Conference Match
 
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.
 
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