MOBILE, Ala. – The Louisiana Christian University women's soccer team had to wait through a thunderstorm to kick off its 2026 season opener, dampening its start in a 4-0 loss to the Mobile Rams Thursday night at The Jungle.
Louisiana Christian (0-1) found itself down quickly as Mobile (1-0) netted its first goal of the season in the fifth minute. The Rams added goals in the 37
th and 45
th minutes to take a 3-0 lead into the half before adding another in second half in the 50
th minute.
Giselle Laing, LCU's leading scorer from a season ago, had the first attempt at goal of the season for either team as she jumped on a loose ball at the top of the box in the match's third minute, but pulled the shot wide right. That proved to be her lone shot of the match.
Emerith Hernandez was the closest Wildcat to find the back of the net as her shot in the 42
nd minute bounded off the crossbar. She took two shots in the match, putting one on target.
Katalina Medina also took two shots during the match, one of which was on frame but could not get past the Ram goalkeeper.
LCU took eight shots as a team in the contest, two of which were on target.
Marta Papandrea (0-1) got the start in net for the Wildcats and was credited with two saves, though conceding three times in the opening 45 minutes.
Sara Mendivelso came on after halftime and played the final 45 minutes, conceding once while also making a pair of saves. All told, the LCU keepers saw a total of 15 shots taken at their net throughout the match, eight of which were on frame.
The Wildcats look to rebound from the season-opening defeat on Saturday in Blue Mountain, Miss. as they take on Blue Mountain Christian. Kickoff of Saturday's match against the Toppers (0-0) is set for 1 p.m. at the BMC Sportsplex.
