HAMMOND, La. – It rained goals Friday evening as Lamar University got another Southland Conference victory edging Southeastern Louisiana 5-3. After going down early, three lead changes, and a long weather delay, Lamar was able to put in a strong second half performance to hold off the Lady Lions from pulling an upset. This puts the Cardinals record at 8-6 and 5-1 in conference play.
 
SLU started off the game with a goal in the 14^th minute. A freekick from the right corner of the box was crossed dangerously into the middle. The ball found the head of a Lady Lion, and they were able to go up by one goal.
 
It took the Cards the entire first half to net their first goal of the game. After several attempts at the goal, Lamar would finally break through in the last minute of the half. Junior Lucy Ashworth set up for a free kick from 48 yards out. With nobody expecting a shot, Ashworth fired the ball into the box. The ball took one bounce before finding the top left corner of the net. This would tie the game up 36 seconds before the halftime whistle.
 
After a lengthy weather delay, both teams came out firing. Both started the second half with a shot, but Lamar found the net to start the goal scoring chaos. Trying to keep the momentum from Ashworth's first half stunner, Big Red wanted to grab the lead early, and that they did. Sophomore Esther Okoronkwo got her name on the scoresheet just four minutes into the second half. A pass from Junior Madison Ledet put her teammate through on goal, and Okoronkwo made no mistake. She slid the ball past the keeper and into the bottom corner of the goal.
 
Southeastern struck quickly after the goal to tie the game. Lamar conceded a penalty just 22 seconds after their goal. SLU stepped up to the spot and converted. The game was even once again.
 
Just a few moments later, sophomore Anna Loftus found the net. A poor clearance from SLU off a cross found Loftus' feet. She struck the ball from the top of the box with enough pace to beat the keeper and put Lamar back on top. After her goal, Loftus decided to add an assist to her stats. A quick counterattack from Lamar left Loftus with the ball just on the attacking half of midfield. She slid the ball through to meet the fantastic run of Okoronkwo. A touch to the left of the keeper and a calm finish from the sophomore put Lamar up by two.
The Lady Lions were able to pull one back on the Cards when they were awarded their second penalty of the night. A clash in the box led to the referee pointing to the spot again, and again SLU put it away. This would give the Southeastern a shimmer of hope.
 
After the longest time in the second half without a goal, the Cardinals put the game away. A corner from Ashworth found the head of freshman Kaisa Juvonen. She put the ball away along with the game. An eight-goal thriller ended with Lamar taking another big conference win 5-3.
 
The Cardinals are back at home on Oct. 18 to play Abilene Christian. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7 pm at the LU Soccer Complex.