Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech has its final tune-up before Conference USA play begins as the Bulldogs host the Little Rock Trojans on Thursday night at the Mack.
MATCH INFORMATION
DATE: Thursday, Sept. 14 | 7 p.m. CT
LOCATION: Robert Mack Caruthers Field (Ruston, La.)
STATS: LATechSports.com/Stats
SERIES: LA Tech leads 4-2-0
PROMOTION
Thursday night is the annual International Game. Fans who bring their nation’s flag to the match will have a chance to win prizes.
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (3-4-1)
LA Tech dropped its fourth straight road game this past Sunday, falling at Ole Miss by a score of 6-2. One bright spot was the play of true freshman Kyra Taylor who scored both goals for the Bulldogs, one apiece in the first and second half.
After seeing limited action in the first six matches, Taylor has been inserted into the starting lineup the past two games and produced two goals in each. In doing so, she became the first Bulldog since 2018 to record multiple goals in back-to-back games.
She is now right behind Lauren Egbuloniu who still anchors the team in points (12) and goals (five). Despite being held without a shot at Ole Miss, she has posted at least one goal in three of the last five matches.
LA Tech is one of only three CUSA teams to have multiple players with at least four goals scored. Egbuloniu ranks third in goals while Taylor is tied for fourth.
ABOUT LITTLE ROCK (2-1-4)
Little Rock is currently riding a four-match unbeaten streak, having tied both Central Arkansas and Grambling State while also shutting out Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 4-0, and Alabama A&M, 3-0.
The Trojans have had only one setback, which was an 8-0 loss at Oklahoma State. Outside of the loss to the Cowgirls, Little Rock has allowed just four total goals. They are 1-1-3 in road matches this season.
Little Rock recently secured two Ohio Valley Conference weekly honors with Kaitlin Graeber being awarded Defensive Player of the Week and Karina De Paoli being voted Offensive Player of the Week. Paoli anchors the team with three goals scored this season.
THE SERIES
LA Tech and Little Rock will square off for a seventh time. The Bulldogs won four straight in the series prior to the Trojans winning, 1-0, last season in Arkansas. The two teams first met in 2004, the inaugural season for LA Tech Soccer.
Thursday will mark the third straight season that they will meet on the soccer pitch. The Bulldogs are 3-0 versus the Trojans in Ruston with the last matchup being a 2-1 victory in 2021.
