NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana will open its second varsity women's soccer season with a 5 p.m. CDT Sunday exhibition at NCAA Division I Southern University at A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
        XULA and Southern agreed Friday to push back the start time four hours.
        The Gold Nuggets have 15 returnees from 2023 — that team was a first-round winner at NAIA nationals, 13-6 overall and 11-2 and regular-season champion in the Red River Athletic Conference. Returnees include:
        •  Midfielder Luci Schroeder, who was third-team NAIA All-America, RRAC Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, Louisiana Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, and first-team All-Louisiana.
        •  Midfielder Julia de Souza, first-team All-RRAC and first-team All-Louisiana.
        •  Midfielder Britni Belmonte, second-team All-RRAC.
        •  Defender Millicent Owusu, second-team All-RRAC and an RRAC All-Freshman selection.
        •  Goalkeeper Theresa Wiesiolek, second-team All-RRAC.
        •  Midfielder Gabriela Gonzalez, honorable-mention All-RRAC.
        •  Defender Maureen Owusu, honorable-mention All-RRAC and RRAC All-Freshman.
        •  Goalkeeper Luisa Bella, RRAC All-Freshman.
        •  Midfielder Chie Akayama, RRAC All-Freshman.
        •  Defender Tatum Register, RRAC Champions of Character team.
        XULA's other returning players are Faye Butterworth, Grete Nelson, Charley Prouse, Amelia Suma and Amelia Thompson. The Gold Nuggets' nine newcomers are Lanettia Aikens, Shakiana Dagher, Crislyn Gregory, Alina Paiz, Eduarda Queiroz, Samira Roper, Marissa Walker, Leah Wallace and Jayda Wyatt.
        Ashley Cordeiro earned RRAC and Louisiana Coach of the Year.
        Sunday weather forecast: mostly sunny, high of 98 degrees.
        The remainder of the Gold Nuggets' August schedule:
        •  11 a.m. Wednesday exhibition against Pearl River Community College at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, La.
        •  5 p.m. Aug. 18 regular-season opener at William Carey in Hattiesburg, Miss.
        •  1 p.m. Aug. 27 against Georgia Gwinnett at Lafreniere.
        •  Noon Aug. 31 against Spring Hill at Lafreniere.
        Lafreniere Park is at 3000 Downs Blvd. and 8.6 miles west of the XULA campus. Vehicles on Interstate 10 can use exit 225 at Veterans Memorial Boulevard. Admission is free to XULA home games.