CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Marie Lund scored two goals to propel the Lamar University Cardinals to a dominating 3-0 win over host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Sunday, guaranteeing the Cardinals at least a share of the Southland Conference regular-season championship.
 
LU's win combined with McNeese's 3-2 loss at Houston Baptist, puts the Cardinals (14-3-1 overall, 9-1-0 Southland), three points up on the Cowgirls (12-4-1, 8-2-0) heading into Friday night's showdown at the LU Soccer Complex. The Cardinals would clinch the title outright with a win or a tie. A McNeese win would leave the Cardinals and Cowgirls as co-champions, while McNeese would earn the No. 1 seed for next month's Southland Conference Tournament in Corpus Christi.
 
"What a great day for Lamar University soccer," LU coach Steve Holeman said.  "Winning a conference title is always special, even when you are picked to win. But to finish last year and be picked to finish eighth this season, makes this even more special."
 
The Cardinals dominated the game, outshooting the Islanders (6-8-2, 3-6-1) 22-6, including a 15-3 advantage in shots on goal. But for all their territorial advantage, the Cardinals couldn't get on the board in the first half, as the teams went to the locker rooms in a scoreless tie.
 
Lund opened the scoring just 2:47 into the second half off a Lucy Ashworth corner kick. Ashworth served the ball along the ground where Lund stepped into it and fired a one-timer past goalkeeper Kyleigh Hall.
 
Lund made it 2-0 with 17:26 remaining as she scored from in front off of a scramble following another Ashworth corner kick. Juli Rocha closed out the scoring with 5:44 remaining on a feed from Kelso Peskin, who picked up her school-record 10^th assist of the season.
 
After that, it was up to Lauren Lovejoy, who made three saves to registered her eighth shutout of the season, extending her school record as LU won its eighth straight game.
 
"We're going to enjoy this on the bus ride home, but we know our work isn't done yet," Holeman said. "We know what we have to do to be the No. 1 seed."
 
Tickets for Friday's game are available by calling 409-880-1715, or by CLICKING HERE. Tickets will be available at the Montagne Center ticket office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Tickets will be available at the LU Soccer Complex starting at 6 p.m. Friday. LU students receive free admission with their Cardinal One card. Junior Cardinal Club members receive free admission when they present their membership badge.