The road did not treat the Cougars kindly, as UH lost its last four contests away from Robertson Stadium.
“We’re excited to play,” head coach Susan Bush said. “Everyone is pumped to be back on our home field and we’re ready to get a result.”
Friday, the Cougars (4-10-0, 1-5-0 Conference USA) will take on Southern Mississippi (3-9-3, 0-5-1) at 7 p.m. They return to action Sunday against No. 25 Central Florida at 1 p.m.
The Cougars have good memories from the last time they took the pitch at Robertson with a 2-1 win against UAB on September 25. Bush said that the home field advantage would likely give UH a boost after a stretch of road woes.
The Golden Eagles are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, while scoring only two goals in their past six outings. Even though Southern Miss. sits at the bottom of the conference standings, Bush is not taking anything for granted.
“We’ve dug ourselves into a hole,” Bush said. “We’re looking forward to Friday and not looking to Sunday yet. We’re looking to find a rhythm and unlock this frustration that’s been going on all year.”
The Cougars will encounter a tougher opponent Sunday when they face the Knights (8-2-3, 3-1-2).
The match marks the fifth ranked opponent that UH has faced this season. They have yet to win against a ranked team and have been outscored 13-2 in those matches.
Despite the tough schedule, the Cougars remain positive. With five games remaining on their conference schedule, the Cougars know that it is do or die if they are to make the Conference Championship this November in Memphis, Tenn.
“I think at this point we’re all battling for one of the last spots in conference,” Bush said. “So we’re expecting a tough match.”
Scoring early and often will again be key for the Cougars who have been outscored by a margin of 15-8 in first halves of their games this season.