The Sam Houston women’s soccer team opens Southland Conference play Friday night at 7 p.m. and the big news is the Bearkats will be back on their normal home field for the contest.
Renovations on Joseph Pritchett Field have been completed and the facility will be the site for Bearkat soccer the rest of the season.
Sam Houston brings a 3-7 non-conference record into the match, but five of those seven losses have been by a lone goal. The Bearkat defense has posted three shutouts this year and held foes to just one score in four other matches.
Nicholls brings a 5-5 record to town, owning victories over Spring Hill, Southern, Louisiana-Monroe, Mississippi Valley State and Alcorn State.
Tricia Mallory leads Sam Houston in scoring with two of the Bearkats’ four goals this season. Spencer Valdespino, Janelle Brandom and Annie Newell each have scored four times for the Colonels.
Sam Houston holds a 6-3 edge in the all-time Southland soccer series between the two teams. Nicholls victories came in 2003 (the SHSU program’s inaugural year), 2004 and 2006 – all in Thibodaux. The Bearkats have won the last five meetings including a 1-0 victory last year.
Friday night is “Free Food Friday” for Bearkat soccer with the first 100 students receiving McKenzie’s Barbeque.
Sam Houston will play two Southland matches at Pritchett this weekend. Central Arkansas visits Sunday at 1 p.m.
