Sun Belt Championship Journey: The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Womens Soccer team is gearing up for its 17th appearance at the Sun Belt Conference Championships, facing off against No. 8-seeded Texas State in a first-round clash at Foley Sports Tourism Complex.
Scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff, the match will be streamed live on ESPN+, and live stats will be available at CajunStats.com. The victor in Mondays showdown will advance to take on top-seeded South Alabama on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Securing their postseason berth with a thrilling 1-0 win over Marshall last Thursday, Louisiana (7-8-2), the No. 9 seed, saw Hailly Waterhouse’s 75th-minute goal make the crucial difference. Freshman goalkeeper Natalie Mayes, with 10 saves, notched her first career collegiate shutout.
Megan Bradley, boasting 4 goals and 9 points, leads Louisiana’s scoring in the 2023 season. Emma Bates, Sisley Stephens, and Briana Henry follow closely with five points each (2 goals, 1 assist). In Thursdays victory, freshman Mary Mueth notched her team-leading third assist of the season, while Lauren Bennett (1,429 minutes), Waterhouse (1,304), and Mariella Stephens (1,170) lead in minutes played.
Texas State (8-6-4) concluded the regular season with a dramatic 3-3 draw against Southern Miss, featuring Chloe Jones scoring the equalizer with one second left on the clockthe latest goal in regulation in team history. Olivia Wright tops the charts for the Bobcats with six goals and 15 points, followed by Zoe Junior, Victoria Meza, and Mady Soumare, each scoring three goals.
In goal, Caitlyn Draper, starting the last 11 matches, has recorded a 1.26 with 54 saves and a .771 save percentage. Her five shutouts rank as the second most by a Texas State freshman goalkeeper.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Who won the Sun Belt championship 2023?
Troy continued its reign as champion by securing a solid 49-23 win against App State in the 2023 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship Game at Veterans Memorial Stadium. With a record of 11-2, the Trojans have now achieved a remarkable 10th consecutive victory, showcasing their strength for the second year in a row.
Where will the 2023 Sun Belt championship be played?
Troy, the champion of the Sun Belt West Division for a second year in a row, will be hosting the Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Ala., on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT.
Does the Sun Belt have a championship game?
App State played in its fourth Sun Belt championship game, which is the best in the league’s six-year history. Unfortunately, they lost the title game for the second time. The Mountaineers were victorious in the games they hosted in 2018 and 2019 against Louisiana, but they were unable to secure a win in Louisiana in 2021.
What bowl game will Troy University play in 2023?
The Duke Blue Devils are aiming for a repeat of their Sun Belt title and bowl win this season, their second in a row. The Trojans have their sights set on this impressive achievement.