Written by Kristin Whitman.

VSU’s women’s soccer team gears up for another “Gulf War” this weekend with two Gulf South Conference games.

VSU takes on Christian Brothers University Friday, Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. for the home opener, and finish the weekend road trip against Delta State University Sunday, Sept 21 at 1 p.m.

The Blazers enter the weekend with a 0-3 record. CBU is 4-0 and DSU is 1-3.

VSU is 3-0- all-time against CBU and 2-0-1 all-time against DSU.

Senior goal keeper, Olivia Mills, has confidence that this road trip will bring similar success.

“There is always a lot of intensity and grit when we play CBU,” Mills said. “They test us and that usually pushes us to come out with a win.”

According to Mills, the team finds themselves not worrying about DSU as competitors as much as they do CBU, but they realize this year they need to keep their focus when playing them.

“This is a team that we need to push through and we need to come away with some big goals instead of small wins.” Mills said.

The first home game is the one that the ladies have been looking forward to since they started the season. VSU head coach Rebecca Nolin is thrilled to see how playing at home will affect her players.

“The team looks forward to the fans that come and the community here at VSU that supports them,” Nolin said. “I am ready for them to be able to show off in front of their fans.”

Even with all the excited about the first home game extra pressure is added on the team when playing at home because, “we don’t lose at home,” Mills said.

The Lady Blazers boast an all-time record of 19-4-3 at home.

The team plans to leave for the game in Cleveland, Mississippi early Saturday morning so that they will be well rested and have their minds on the game against DSU.

“We have a job to do and this travel should not affect our game,” Nolin said.

There is one certain thing that the team knows will help them come out on top with their first conference games and that is, according to Mills, the fact they are a close-nit team that loves being able to work and fight for each other.