By Wyatt Junkmann

The Poke Press

Cowgirl Soccer

McNeese soccer has opened the 2026 season with a 3-2 record under first-year head coach Alexsis Cable, the best five-game start they have had since 2016. 

The cowgirls started the season with an exhibition game against LSU-Eunice where they won 7-0. After which they began their regular season play with 3 consecutive wins against Alcorn State, Southern Miss and Jackson State before falling to North Texas and West Florida.  

Cable served as an assistant coach at North Texas before she took over McNeese’s program, after they suffered a disappointing ending to the 2025 Women’s Soccer season with an overall record of 4 wins, 12 losses, and 4 ties. 

A first-year Head Coach is always a gamble, but it seems to be paying off as the Cowgirls have improved from a point differential of -9 in the first 5 games of the 2025 season, to now in the 2026 season where the team has an even scoring differential. 

Athletic Director Bridget Martin said Cable’s recruiting has helped shape the program entering the new season.  

“What she’s done, hiring the right people, makes the difference.” Martin said. “She’s going to get the right players, I think she’s very focused and disciplined and I think her student athletes are buying in, so she’s approached the season with a strategy and I think that she’s building momentum getting ready for Southland Conference play” 

According to Martin, McNeese has won one conference championship in the program’s 30-year history. Now, she has challenged them to win another.

“I challenged them yesterday for a conference championship.” Martin said. “I think that going into the season, that would be a goal they could pursue.” 

The Cowgirls will compete at home against UL-Lafayette Sunday at 5 p.m. 

Cowboy Football


McNeese Football will open its 2026 season Saturday at 6 p.m. against Stephen F. Austin following fall scrimmages. 

It’s not a secret that the 2025 McNeese Football team was not the McNeese expectation of FCS contender.   

The Cowboys enter the 2026 season following a loss of 5-7 in the 2025 season, the first time Coach Matt Viator had a losing record in his entire career. However, the past is not the future, and the 2026 football unit has shown glimpses of potential, with the quarterback room throwing multiple 45+ yard passes in the fall scrimmages. 

Defensively, McNeese recorded nine sacks and catching two interceptions during its first fall scrimmage.  

On McNeese Athletics’ “PokeCast,” defensive coordinator Tony Pecoraro gave a brief response when discussing expectations for the defense. 

“We’re about to find out.” Pecoraro said. 

McNeese will host Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. Saturday night at Navarre Stadium.

Kickoff will be at 6 p.m. and McNeese fans can watch the game on ESPN+ and listen on The Lake 92.9