RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech women's soccer team is back in action this week with back-to-back matches, starting on Thursday night when they play host to crosstown foe Grambling State at 7 p.m. at the Lady Techster Soccer Complex.
 
LA Tech (6-1-0) will turn around the next day on Friday and travel to the state of Mississippi to face off against Alcorn State at 4 p.m. at Spinks-Casem Stadium.
 
The Lady Techsters are riding a five-match winning streak heading into the latter part of their non-conference schedule. 
 
The winning streak stayed intact after the team took down three opponents – Missouri State, Western Illinois and Graceland – on the road over the span of just five days. 
 
Playing a huge role in those three victories was sophomore Elizabeth Doll who played the full 90 minutes in helping pitch the shutout over Missouri State who went to the NCAA Tournament last season.
 
The defender then scored the equalizer and the game-winner, both off set pieces, in the win at Western Illinois.  And she notched another header goal in the final match this past Sunday at Graceland, giving her three goals on the season (had two last season as a freshman).
 
The victory over GU was a special one for head coach Kevin Sherry as he notched career win No. 200 at the same place where he began his collegiate coaching career back in 2001. 
 
Grambling State (2-4-0) put an end to its three-match losing streak this past Sunday with a 1-0 shutout victory over LSU-Shreveport.  The Lady Tigers also have a win over Nicholls State this season. 
 
GSU, coming off a runner-up finish in the SWAC Tournament a season ago, was picked to finish second in the SWAC preseason poll.  They are led by Kaylee Holt who was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.  She currently leads the team with five points – two goals and one assist. 
 
Thursday will mark the 11th all-time meeting between LA Tech and GSU.  The Lady Techsters have won seven straight against the Lady Tigers, including last year's 3-2 overtime win in Grambling.
 
Alcorn State (0-3-0) is still searching for its first win of the 2018 season, falling to Southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi University for Women and Nicholls State.
 
The Lady Braves were picked ninth in the SWAC preseason poll.  The lone goal scored for Alcorn this season came from Yaira Guardado. 
 
Friday will be the first ever meeting on the pitch between LA Tech and Alcorn State.
 
Admission is free to all home matches.  For those unable to attend Thursday's match, it will be streamed live on CUSA.tv ($).  Fans can also follow @LATechSOC on Twitter for live in-game updates.