Jags hosting Nelson University in first official game as A&M-Victoria

Friday marks a new chapter for Texas A&M University-Victoria athletics.

The Jaguars will debut their new A&M-Victoria kits in a 1 p.m. non-conference clash with Nelson University at The Cage.

With the women's soccer team adopting "#GoFirst" as their season mantra, first-year head coach Kimberly Uetrecht is excited about the opportunity to debut the fresh uniforms.

"It's definitely exciting," Uetrecht said. "(The uniforms) are really, really cool. They look sharp. Our players are excited to wear them and represent as A&M-Victoria."

The Jaguars (0-1) aim to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to Sooner Athletic Conference foe Oklahoma City in Saturday's season opener in Friday's bout with the Lady Lions (2-0-1), also out of the SAC.

While A&M-Victoria holds a 7-1-1 edge over Nelson in the all-time series and a 4-0-1 mark at home, Uetrecht knows they will have to earn a result against a Lady Lions team who beat conference rivals LSU Alexandria, 3-2, on Monday and drew, 1-1, with A&M-Texarkana on Saturday.

"We've had some really great days of training after our game against OCU," Uetrecht said. "The girls are really motivated to see what they can put together. And who doesn't like a challenge? It makes you rise to the occasion. So, we definitely like an early challenge and want to see what we're made of."

Last year's meeting in Waxahachie ended in a 1-0 win for the Jaguars thanks to a 37^th-minute goal by Arantza Alva with an assist from Yesenia Vega.

It was the fifth time in the all-time series a game between the Jaguars and Lady Lions was either decided by one goal or ended in a draw. The last time these teams met in Victoria in 2023, they battled to a 2-2 draw.

"I definitely think the returners really enjoy having Nelson as an opponent," Uetrecht said. "It's always a good battle and it's always positive for both teams early in the season. We get to learn a lot about ourselves."