BEAUMONT, Texas – Returning home with a near-perfect mark in the Southland Conference, Lamar University's women's soccer team will host Southeastern Louisiana on Friday before hitting the road again to play at Nicholls on Sunday.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT – SAM HOUSTON STATE AND STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
 
Sam Houston State
After two overtime periods, neither team could find an advantage as Lamar University tied Sam Houston State, 1-1, Friday evening at Pritchett Field.
 
In addition to the score ending in a deadlock, the stat sheet was nearly even between both teams. The Cardinals outshot Sam Houston by six (27-21) but only by two in terms of shots on goal (13-11). The Bearkats ended the night with two more saves (12-10) and were called for two more fouls.

"The defenses played well on both sides of the ball tonight," said LU head coach Steve Holeman. "We had some opportunities but couldn't convert. I thought the goalkeepers for both teams played well. We got down a goal early in the second half but fought right back to tie things up, so we showed some resiliency. In the overtime, we outshot them 9-3 but just couldn't get the one we needed for the win."
 
Stephen F. Austin
It took an extra 19 minutes in the piney woods to determine the winner, but Lamar University's soccer team emerged victorious Sunday in a double overtime game at Stephen F. Austin. Juliana Ocampo provided the winning advantage with two goals, including the game-winner, to give LU a 3-2 victory.

"Juli played extremely well and we needed that today," said head coach Steve Holeman. "She's very calm on the ball and a terrific presence for us on the field. She turned in a heroic performance for us again, very similar to what she did against UTSA."

Lamar out-shot SFA 25-17 on the day and had two more shots on goal, but a few lucky breaks allowed Stephen F. Austin to tie the game up twice. Through regulation the two teams had 14 shots apiece, but in extras Lamar had 11 shots to SFA's three, a significant advantage that came about largely due to the Cards' push to maintain control of the ball.
 
THIS WEEK – SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA AND NICHOLLS
 
Lamar vs. Southeastern Louisiana – Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.
Southeastern is 5-4-2 overall this year and 2-2-1 in SLC play. The Lady Lions have wins over McNeese and A&M-Corpus Christi at home and lost at Abilene Christian and at home to Houston Baptist. Southeastern Louisiana tied at Incarnate Word.
 
Christopher McBride is in his second season as the head coach of the Lady Lions and holds a 10-14-5 record. McBride came to Hammond, La., after one year as an assistant at South Alabama and four seasons at North Alabama.

The Lady Lions rank about middle of the road in shots per game, averaging 15.00 a contest, and their 1.64 assists a game are third in the SLC. Their save percentage is an impressive 86.3 percent, second in the conference, and their average of 2.09 goals a game is fourth.
 
Christina Cutura ranks fifth in the SLC in scoring with an average of 1.22 points a game, and her 4.78 shots a game is second in the league. 2.11 of those attempted shots have been on goal, the third-best mark in the Southland. Also a threat offensively is Brogan Bernadas, who is fifth in the conference in game-winning goals with two.
 
Nadine Maher is fourth in the SLC with a 1.059 goals-against average, and her save percentage of 84.6 is the second-best in the league.

Lamar at Nicholls – Oct. 7 at 1 p.m.
Nicholls is 2-9 this season, including 0-4 against SLC opponents and an 0-1 mark against a team Lamar shut out 5-0 (Grambling). The Colonels are under the direction of Michael "Mac" McBride, who holds a 220-95-17 record as a head coach, including a 14-28-3 mark in three years at Nicholls.

The biggest offensive weapon on the Colonel roster is Francesca Curteis, who leads the team with 13 points (six goals and one assist). Alison Ward has two goals and an assist, and Kristyn Daniels has showed a deft passing ability in front of the net with three assists on the year.

Roosa Hurmerinta and Jade Gallaher have split time in the net this season with Hurmerinta playing the majority of the minutes. Hurmerinta has allowed 11 goals for a 1.83 goals-against average and has 23 saves on the year. Both of Nicholls' wins have come with Hurmerinta as the keeper.
 
UP NEXT
 
Lamar will return to the road for games at Incarnate Word (Oct. 12) and at Abilene Christian (Oct. 14). The Cards will play then just two more home games, Houston Baptist (Oct. 19) and A&M-Corpus Christi (Oct. 21) before closing the regular season at McNeese (Oct. 26). The SLC Tournament, hosted by Lamar at the LU Soccer Complex, will take place Oct. 31 through Nov. 4.