BEAUMONT, Texas – Senior Juliana Ocampo scored the game-winning goal – her third of the night -- in the 94^th minute as Lamar University defeated UTSA, 4-3, Friday evening in an overtime thriller at the LU Soccer Complex. In addition to playing an overtime period, the contest was also delayed an hour due to lightning in the area.
 
"What a fantastic night for Juliana," said LU head coach Steve Holeman. "Three goals in one night, including the game-winner in overtime – it just doesn't get any better than that.
 
"I thought we were very fortunate to score three goals in the first half. We were very efficient in the opening half scoring our three goals on six shots. Give credit to UTSA, they put us under a lot of pressure in the second half and forced the game into overtime," added Holeman.
 
Fans definitely got their money's worth Friday as the back-and-forth thriller saw the Cards have to rally from an early deficit and score three unanswered goals only to have UTSA tie the game with just over two minutes remaining. The Cardinals would have the final word as Ocampo netted the final goal less than four minutes into the overtime.
 
After falling behind by one 14 minutes into the contest, the Cardinals rallied for three consecutive goals to take a 3-1 lead in the first half. Ocampo started the rally 9:44 seconds after the UTSA score. Ocampo was able to put the ball in the back of the net following her shot off a deflection.
 
The Colombia native gave the Red and White their first lead of the night just over nine minutes later when she was the recipient of some strong passing from Amelia Fuller and Madison Ledet in the box. The Cardinals built what appeared to be an insurmountable lead with less than four minutes remaining in the half when sophomore Hailey Loupe scored her first goal of the season.
 
Despite taking a two-goal lead into the second, it was the Roadrunners that opened the half with the momentum. UTSA pulled within one in the 70^th minute of action. Following the goal from the 'Runners' Melissa Finley, the game turned into a defense struggle for next 17-plus minutes. The Cardinals needed to just melt the final three minutes off the clock, but UTSA's Katie Becker had other plans.
 
Becker netted a goal to tie the game at 3 with 2:03 remaining. The goal forced the game into overtime, LU's first of the season. Despite surrendering two straight to their opponents, LU didn't allow the game-tying goal to steal their focus. The Cardinals regrouped in the overtime to get the game-winner less four minutes into the extra stanza.
 
The Red and White made a change in goal giving Sandra Nygard her first start of the season. The freshman keeper stared down 18 shots recording eight saves.
 
The Cardinals will have very little time to enjoy the victory as they will be back on the field Sunday to face Colorado College. The game against the Tigers will begin at noon from the LU Soccer Complex.
 
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