BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University outlasted Abilene Christian in a match for the ages. The 6-4 victory will be one that lives on in the memory of those who were able to watch it. The match was intense, dramatic, emotional, and amazing. With such a tight race for the top of the league, Lamar needed a big Southland Conference victory, and they got it with help from their star player, junior Lucy Ashworth.
 
"We feel like we're a pretty good goal-scoring team. When you look to this game, you don't sit back and think it's going to be a 1-0 game, you think its going to be a pretty high scoring affair," said head coach Steve Holeman. "I never imagined it would be 6-4, but credit to them. Credit to us. We both responded after being down. We both tied the game. It was back and forth. One of the most amazing games I've ever been a part of."
 
Lamar came through on what turned out to be another second half thriller. The game started slow for the Cardinals, but they fought through and were able to come out with a big Southland Conference win.
 
The goal scoring was started when junior Madison Ledet fired a shot from the right side of the box. What appeared to be a cross at first, saw Ledet sneak the ball through several players to find the bottom right corner of the goal. After the goal, the Wildcats went on to score two goals just before the half.
 
Despite trailing Big Red came out of the half with fire. The team scored five of their six goals in the second half – a half that was all about momentum. There isn't a better way to gain momentum than a striker winning the ball back from the defense and starting an attack of her own. Junior Esther Okoronkwo chased down a Wildcat defender and won the ball back in the attacking third. She took the ball wide and put in a beautiful ball. Waiting in the box wide open was sophomore Anna Loftus who headed the ball past the keeper to tie the game.
 
A minute later, ACU took back the lead, but the Cardinals didn't back down. Ashworth, who has been fighting off an illness all day, took things into her own hands. She received a short pass from sophomore Kaisa Juvonen and fired the strike that would ignite the Cardinals. The ball had all sorts of swerve on it, and there was nothing the keeper could do to keep it out of the net. A little over a minute later, Loftus would use that momentum to get her second of the day. Loftus picked up a free ball on the edge of the penalty area and fired it. The ball curved away from the keeper and into the right side of the net. Lamar took its first lead since the 12^th minute of the match.
 
The Cards were hoping to hold on to their one goal lead for the remainder of the game, but that all changed with another goal from ACU. With the game all tied up, and despite being sick, Ashworth decided it was time to put the game away. Okoronkwo had the pass that would set up another spectacular strike from Ashworth. Ashworth had scored her second crucial goal of the game, and Lamar went up by one with only a few minutes left to play. Just in case one wasn't good enough, Okoronkwo took a long ball from Ashworth, dribbled it past the keeper, and passed it into the net. The Cards held on for the final minute and walked away with the victory.
 
"We actually didn't think she was going to be able to step on the field, but what a courageous performance. Not only did she play but had a huge impact on the game. I can't say enough about her effort tonight, and this whole team."
 
The Cardinals will be back at home Sunday when they host the University of the Incarnate Word in another Southland Conference battle. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 P.M. at the LU Soccer Complex.