Fresh off their season-opening victory that saw Lamar University post a 5-0 shutout victory over Grambling State, the Cardinals now turn their attention to Houston. The Red and White will step on the field Sunday evening looking to go 2-0 for a second consecutive season (the Cardinals started the 2017 season with a 3-0 mark). Sunday's game against the Cougars will begin at 7 p.m. from the LU Soccer Complex.
 
Sunday's opponent will be a Houston Cougars squad that is looking for its first victory of the season. The Cougars opened their 2018 campaign Friday with a 3-1 setback at crosstown rival, and fellow Southland member, Houston Baptist.
 
Houston comes into the 2018 season looking to bounce back from a 7-9-1 season last year, that saw the Cougars drop six of the final eight games.
 
"We have to be ready to play come Sunday," said LU head coach Steve Holeman. "Houston has a very talented squad. This will be a good challenge for our young team."
 
Despite LU's overall youth, the Cardinals should enter the contest with a ton of confidence after their season opener. The Cardinals posted an overwhelming performance despite having seven players in the starting lineup who were sophomores or younger (including three rookies).
 
Among the Cardinals youthful starters Friday was sophomore Jocelyn Hanrath who posted a shutout in her first NCAA Division I start at goalkeeper. She played all 90 minutes recording five saves, and also assisted on the Cardinals' first goal of the season. She made a strong-legged pass up the field to senior Kelso Peskin who made a nice move on a defender for burying her shot in the back of the net.
 
Peskin was one of two Cardinals to score two goals Friday. Peskin netted the first goal in the 15^th minute of the game and closed out the scoring with one in the 55^th minute. Sophomore Lucy Ashworth scored the second and third goals of the game, while classmate Ali Hebert got the other.
 
Sunday's contest takes on even more importance considering it is the final game of a two-game homestand to start the season before the Cardinals head north for two. The Red and White will take their talents to the state of Oklahoma for games against Oklahoma State and Oral Roberts before heading back to Beaumont for a season-long four-game homestand.
 
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