RUSTON – There will be a lot of road trips for the Louisiana Tech women's soccer team this fall as head coach Kevin Sherry announced the 20-game 2019 schedule on Thursday.
 
Fourteen of the 20 matches will be on the road, including the first seven of the regular season which all come in the span of nine days with the opener taking place on Aug. 23 at Southeastern Louisiana.
 
As has been the case for the last six years, the slate will consist of 10 non-conference and 10 Conference USA matches. 
 
"We have a very challenging schedule set for next season," Sherry said.  "Playing so many games on the road will be difficult, but we hope we grow as a team as a result.  Being on the road will help the many new players joining the squad to bond together and are always the best way to ensure team building dynamics.
 
After taking on the Lions in Hammond to kick things off, LA Tech will play at Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, LSU-Alexandria, Nicholls State, ULM and Northwestern State. 
 
The home opener will occur on Sept. 6 versus McNeese State.  All home matches will be played at a site to be determined due to the tornado destruction of the Lady Techster Soccer Complex on April 25.
 
LA Tech rounds out non-conference action at Montevallo on Sept. 8 and at crosstown foe Grambling State on Sept. 11.
 
"We have a lot of in-state opponents which always ensure a tough physical encounter, but we want to be challenged in non-conference play so as to be best prepared for conference play," Sherry said.  "The aim is to be 'battle ready' when we begin our journey to qualify for a sixth consecutive conference tournament appearance."
 
That journey to finish in the top eight and reach the C-USA Tourney will begin on Sept. 22 when the Lady Techsters host the UAB Blazers.  LA Tech will also host last year's C-USA co-regular season champion Florida Atlantic as well as FIU, Rice and Marshall.
 
The five road C-USA matches will come at Old Dominion, WKU, UTEP, UTSA and in the regular season finale at Southern Miss. 
 
The 2019 C-USA Women's Soccer Tournament will be hosted by North Texas in Denton, Texas on Nov. 6-10. 
 
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