Ragin' Cajuns Soccer Starts Preparation For 2016 Season

LAFAYETTE, La. - The 2016 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns soccer program has reported to camp and started practice for the upcoming season.

Entering the 2016 campaign, Louisiana returns several key contributors to the field. The offense returns senior captain Yazmin Montoya, who started in 17 games last season, as well as returning starters, sophomore Sarah Kozlowski (defender), senior Natalie Newman (midfielder), and junior Ashleigh Cade, who is moving into an attacking midfield position. There are a total of ten seniors returning.

"We have a great group of seniors that have been here all together and put in the time and work," 12^th-year head coach Scot Wieland said. "They are invested. Because of that, the chemistry of our team from what I've seen is going to be very good."

Goalkeeper Cosette Morche, who started in 15 matches in 2015, is coming back healthy. Sophomore Kristen Eddy and incoming freshman Mackenzie Lee are also competing for the goalkeeper position.

Louisiana adds first-year assistant coach Lisa Mann to the staff. Mann, a two-time NAIA All-American at Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College, joins the Ragin' Cajuns after serving as head coach at Spring Hill (Ala.) College.

"Lisa brings in a wealth of knowledge," Wieland said. "Growing up in England, she is a soccer junkie. She grew up in it, has played it, and coached it. She is just very excited to be here and is very enthusiastic. I am happy to have her."

Graduate Assistant Coach Mark Hiller, who is also from England, is joining the staff. Louisiana is coming off a 2015 season in which it finished 8-10-2 and an eighth place finish in the Sun Belt Conference.

With a strong starting core returning, Wieland is confident that his squad has the ability to finish near the top of the conference.

"I really feel that we have the team that can compete for that top spot. I really do," Wieland said. "I think we have all of the pieces now. A lot is going to have to do with how this senior class leads this team."

The season beings with an exhibition game at LSU on Friday, August 12 at 7 p.m. Louisiana then travels to Northwestern State for an exhibition game on Sunday, August 14 at 1 p.m.

The Ragin' Cajuns regular season opener at Ole Miss is on Friday, August 19 at 6 p.m. Louisiana begins its home schedule at the Ragin' Cajuns Soccer/Track Complex against Alcorn State on Sunday, August 21 at 4 p.m.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Ragin' Cajuns Soccer Starts Preparation For 2016 Season

Players Mentioned

Ashleigh Cade

Kristen Eddy

Kimberly Grasso

Sarah Kozlowski

Mackenzie Lee

Yazmin Montoya

Cosette Morche

Natalie Newman

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