BEAUMONT, Texas – After a perfect start at home, Lamar University's soccer team will hit the road for the first time Friday for its first two matches away from the friendly confines of the LU Soccer Complex. The Cards will play at regionally-ranked Oklahoma State University and at Oral Roberts University this weekend.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT – HOUSTON
 
Lamar University scored goals in the 20^th and 83^rd minute of the game, but only needed the first, shutting out Houston 2-0 on Sunday at the LU Soccer Complex. The victory, Big Red's second-straight shutout to start 2018, gave LU a perfect 2-0 record on its homestand and marked the second consecutive season the Red and White have opened a year 2-0.
 
"This was a huge win for us," said LU head coach Steve Holeman. "Houston is a good team, and they're really good in the second half. I thought our defense was solid tonight; we bent but didn't break. It was great to get a shutout."
 
Both teams had attempts early in the game to take leads on penalty kicks. Houston's goalkeeper was placed in the spotlight first stonewalling a Kelso Peskin kick, and LU's Southland Conference Goalkeeper of the Week Jocelyn Hanrath returned the favor against Houston moments later.
 
The Cardinals finally snagged the lead when SLC Offensive Player of the Week Peskin received a pass from sophomore Madison Ledet and headed it from the left side of the net. The Cardinals put the game on ice, or rather, Houston put itself on ice when the Cougars Emma Clarke was trying to gain possession of the ball and scored an own goal with less than eight minutes remaining. Big Red seized the momentum not allowing Houston any good looks at the net in the closing minutes.
 
Lamar at Oklahoma State – August 24 at 7 p.m.
 
Ranked as the fourth-best team in the United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region and #19 in the country, the Cowgirls of Oklahoma State are 1-0-0 so far this season after a narrow 2-1 victory over Bedlam rival Oklahoma in a non-conference match. OSU went 16-4-3 last year while claiming its sixth Big 12 championship in program history with an 8-1-0 record in league play. The Cowgirls tied a program record for conference wins and made their first appearance in the second round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship since 2011. Head coach Colin Carmichael is in his 14^th season at the helm with a 181-74-37 mark.
 
The Cowgirls' program, while older than Lamar's, is still relatively young in its 23^rd season. OSU has earned a berth in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship in 10 of the last 12 years and four of the past five. Only West Virginia was predicted to have a better finish in the Big 12 this season in the preseason coaches' poll, and 15 letter winners return from the 2017 Big 12 regular season championship squad, including senior forward Haley Woodard, a member of the 2018 Preseason All-Big 12 team.
 
Lamar will enjoy the distinction of playing just the second regular season game to take place in Oklahoma State's new $20 million stadium, Neal Patterson Stadium.
 
Lamar at Oral Roberts – August 26 at 1 p.m.

In his sixth season as head coach of the Golden Eagles, Roger Bush has accrued a 50-41-9 record, including an 8-10-1 overall record and a 5-2 mark in The Summit League, which put ORU in a tie for second place. Oral Roberts was pegged to finish third this season in The Summit League preseason poll.
 
Seven student-athletes received Summit League All-League honors in 2017, and all seven return for this year's squad, including All-League First Team members Brooklyn Eardly and Jordan Langebartels. Anna Gornell and Nelly Mamabolo were named to the Second Team, and Brianna McGowan, Jessica Misquez, and Amogelang Motau made it onto the All-Freshman team.
 
The Golden Eagles are 2-0 this year with two 1-0 shutouts of Portland State and UTRGV, respectively, at the UTRGV tournament in Edinburg, Texas. Ryliegh Bohnenstiehl, the ORU keeper, was named The Summit League goalkeeper of the week, the fourth of her career. She stopped all six shots that she faced in her two starts.
 
Fans can stay tuned to LamarCardinals.com or @LamarAthletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram all season long for updates on soccer and all other Big Red teams competing in the 2018-19 season.