BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University women's soccer team ended its season on a high note with a 1-0 victory over archrival McNeese State in a Southland Conference game Friday night.
 
"We played for our seniors tonight," LU coach Steve Holeman said afterward. "It's been a tough season. I am so happy to see all of their joy."
 
The Cardinals (2-14-3 overall, 1-7-3 Southland) were playing for pride, as their hopes for a berth in the Southland Conference Tournament had already been dashed.
 
"I am so proud of this team," Holeman said. "They could have easily just packed it in and quit, but they kept fighting. That says something about them."
 
M.J. Eckart scored the game's only goal, heading in a corner kick from Samantha Moreno exactly six minutes into the second half. It was Eckart's team-leading sixth goal of the season.
 
"It was such a beautiful goal," Holeman said. "Samantha served a perfect ball and M.J. made no mistake."
 
Freshman goalkeeper Rachel Gries made seven saves for the Cardinals to pick up her third shutout of the season.
 
McNeese held a 22-13 edge in shots, including a 7-6 margin in shots on goal.
 
"We knew they were going to push up offensively when they were trailing," Holeman said. "We did a good job on defense and withstanding their attack."
 
Annie Bravenec made five saves for McNeese (8-9-1, 4-6-1), which qualified for the conference tournament despite the loss.
 
Prior to the game, the Cardinals honored five student-athletes in Senior Night ceremonies: Angelica Hernandez, Brooke Kirchhofer, Patricia Lauritzen, Zoey Stephenson and Jennifer Yacuta.
 
"It's always great to win on Senior Night," Holeman said. "For the seniors, it's a memory they will never forget."