BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University scored two goals in the game's first 17 minutes and road a strong defensive effort the rest of the night to defeat Houston Baptist, 2-0, on Senior Night Friday at the LU Soccer Complex. It marked the eighth time this season the LU defense has pitched a shutout.
 
Freshman Sandra Nygard got the start in net and went the distance recording four saves. She improves to 5-1-1 on the year and lowers her goals against average to 0.98.
 
The Cardinals outshot their guests, 19-12, including a 14-7 advantage in the opening 45 minutes of action. HBU was also hurt by eight fouls in the game.
 
"We've been looking for that time when we could get off to a quick start and it just happened to be tonight," said LU head coach Steve Holeman. "It's senior night, and our girls had a lot to play for, so they really came out with a lot of energy. From start to finish, I think this was our best performance of the year."
 
Big Red (10-4-2/6-1-2 SLC) opened the game with an offensive surge scoring two goals in the game's first 17 minutes, and netting the gamewinner less than six minutes in. Senior Kelso Peskin got the scoring started at the 5:37 mark. She took a feed from Juliana Ocampo – on a drive started by Nygard – made a nice move to her right and beat two defenders and buried the ball past the goalkeeper on the right side of the net.
 
Sophomore Madison Ledet added to the lead just over 11 minutes later. She took a feed from Peskin from 15 yards out. Ledet netted the goal at the 16:57 mark of the game.
 
Following the second goal, the Cardinals turned to their defense to finish things out, and the back line answered. The Cardinals allowed only 12 shots on the and only four of those were on goal. HBU had three looks in close in the game's final 15 minutes but only one was on goal and all were deflected away.
 
"We were coming off a tough loss which ended a streak and after the game we talked about starting a new one," said Holeman. "We've been on the road five of the last six games and we really enjoy being in front of our fans and the girls just came out of the gate with a lot of energy. If we can play like that every time we step on the field good things are going to happen."
 
Big Red's next opportunity will be Sunday when Texas A&M-Corpus Christi comes to town. The game will begin Sunday at 1 p.m. from the LU Soccer Complex.