BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University needed less than four minutes to score the game-winning goal against Southern defeating the Jaguars, 5-0, Friday evening at the LU Soccer Complex. The win pushes the Cardinals (3-2-0) to a perfect 3-0 at home.
 
The Cardinals knocked Southern on its heels early and never let up. Senior Kelso Peskin scored off a pass from Lucy Ashworth at the 3:27 mark and that opened the flood gates as Big Red would go on to score four more times in the game's opening 45 minutes.
 
Peskin's opening goal was one of two on the night for her, but it was Nederland native Madison Ledet who stole the spotlight recording the hattrick – her first three goals of the season. Ledet's first two goals came within 52 seconds of each other scoring in the 20^th and 21^st minute of action.
 
If Ledet's efforts didn't knock the win out of the Jaguars' attack the next LU onslaught would. Just three minutes after Ledet's second goal Peskin took a pass from sophomore Lucy Ashworth and buried the ball in the back of the net. Sixty-four seconds later Ledet and company were back on the attack as she received a pass from Ashworth for the fifth and final goal of the night.  
 
"One of the things we talked about at halftime was not to get complacent," said LU head coach Steve Holeman. "We got up 5-0 in the first half and pitched a shutout in the second. We had 15 shots in the second half but wasn't able to finish. That is something we just have to become better at. The intensity was there but the focus wasn't so much. There has to be extra effort on our side working on technique and focusing."
 
The Cardinals went into the locker room outshooting their guests 22-2, and the Red and White never took their foot off the accelerator. Although they were unable to add to their lead in the final 45 minutes LU outshot the Jaguars, 37-2.
 
Sophomore Jocelyn Hanrath gets credited with her third shutout of the season, but the Cards defense never really allowed Southern a good look at the back of the net. The Jaguars finished the night with only two shots neither on goal.
 
Ashworth worked hard behind the scenes to make sure her teammates were in the spotlight Friday. The England native recorded three assists on the night.
 
Prior to the start of the game, the Cardinals had a banner ceremony to honor the 2017 squad for its run to the NCAA Championships. Big Red recorded a 16-game turnaround from the previous year to win their first Southland Conference regular-season and tournament title and represented the SLC in the NCAA Championships.
 
"It was great to see the seniors from last year return to the field and be able to honor them, and the whole team for what they did," said Holeman. "It was an incredible season, and it's nice to see the banners hanging in the facility. They look fantastic and it was nice to be a part of the ceremony."
 
The Cardinals will now turn their attention to LSU. The Tigers will make their way to Beaumont Tuesday for a 7 p.m. game at the LU Soccer Complex.
 
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