HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The injury-depleted Lamar University women's soccer team couldn't overcome a slow start in a 3-0 loss at Southern Mississippi in a non-conference game Friday afternoon.
 
The Cardinals (1-6-0), who are down to 14 healthy field players, fell behind 2-0 in the first half to the Golden Eagles (4-1-0). That was a tough hole to dig out of, considering Southern Miss has allowed just two goals on the season.
 
"We know we're limited, but we need some players who can play a full 90 minutes," LU coach Steve Holeman said. "It was disappointing being down by two goals at halftime."
 
Stephanie Garcia put Southern Miss on the board 23:16 into the contest when she took a pass from Katie Richmond and fired a shot past LU goalkeeper Rachel Gries for her first goal of the season.
 
Beth Coleman made it 2-0 at the 32:57 mark as she converted a pass from Garcia. The Cardinals had their share of chances in the opening period, but Southern Miss goalkeeper Brittany Taylor made two saves, including a solid stop on LU's Jennifer Yacuta to preserve the two-goal advantage.
 
LU junior goalkeeper Lauren Lovejoy came in to start the second half for the Cardinals, seeing her first action of the season. Lovejoy was credited with four saves, at least two of the spectacular variety, and had no chance on Bri Schubeck's goal that made it 3-0.
 
"Lauren has been looking good in training, and we thought it was time to give her a chance," Holeman said. "It wasn't that Rachel did anything wrong. Lauren played well, and as a coach it's a great feeling to have two goalkeepers you can depend on."
 
The Cardinals have a pair of contests next weekend to wrap up their five-game road swing. LU opens Southland Conference play at Nicholls at 4 p.m. Friday before facing LSU at 1 p.m. Sept. 18 in the final non-conference game of the season.
 
"Obviously, we're going to focus on the conference games," Holeman said. "We get to wipe the slate clean and get a fresh start. LSU will help us get better, but we know that the conference game at Nicholls is important."
 
The Cardinals' next home game is 7 p.m. Sept. 23, when Northwestern State comes to the LU Soccer Complex for a Southland Conference match.
 
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