BEAUMONT, Texas - Following a triumphant weekend which saw the Lamar University soccer team win their second Southland Conference regular season title in three years, the Cardinals will return to the LU Soccer Complex to play arch rivals McNesse (10-7, SLC 6-4) to round out the regular season.
 
Lamar vs. McNesse- Battle of the Border- Friday, November 1 at 7 p.m (LU Soccer Complex):
 
Big Red will look to extend their incredible winning streak this season to nine games when they face McNesse in a Battle of the Border match up which will also serve as senior night for the only senior member of the team, Maccie McFarland.
 
McNesse currently sits sixth overall in the Southland Conference standings, having started their season in flying form with a five-game win streak. Since then they have struggled to emulate such form and the results have dried up, having only picked up one win in their last five games. Their last game came against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, ending with a 1-0 loss.
 
"We are still fighting for a lot of things on Friday," said LU head coach Steve Holeman, "McNeese is our rival and they will be ready to play, it will be our senior night which means the last home game for our only senior - Macie McFarland - she is our captain and everyone is going to want to fight for her. It won't be hard for this team to get motivated for Friday's game."
 
Last time around:
 
In a weekend double header, the Cardinals amassed two impressive wins on the road to secure the Southland Conference title. On Friday evening, Big Read triumphed against Texas A&M Corpus Christi 2-0. Junior Esther Okoronkwo scored the only two goals of the match, while freshman Erin Branch played a crucial role in securing the clean sheet with 11 saves. Madison Ledet and Lucy Ashworth also tallied up an assist apiece.
 
The Cardinals wrapped up a share of the title on Sunday afternoon with their 3-1 victory over Houston Baptist, and moments later following news that UIW was upset by Stephen F. Austin in double overtime Big Red were confirmed conference champions with one game still to spare. Big Red's stand out players of the season thus far, Ashworth and Okoronkwo, again proved why they sit second and third in the individuals NCAA scoring rankings. The Cardinal pairing have amassed 36 goals between them, a statistic which has contributed to Lamar University being the fifth ranked team nationally in scoring offensive points (2.89 per game).
 
In the 12th minute Okoronkwo netted her 19th goal of the season after finding a well-timed pass from Ledet. Both teams entered half time a goal-a-piece following a Houston Baptist goal in the 25th minute. Though three-time Southland Conference offensive player of the week, Ashworth, proved just why she has cumulated such accolades by scoring twice in the 48th and 52nd minute to secure a famous 3-1 victory and ensure the Southland Conference title returned to the oil rich fields of Beaumont.
 
Friday's game is due to kick off at 7 p.m from the LU Soccer Complex, and Lamar Soccer will be collaborating with softball to create a Haunted House theme for Halloween. So be sure to join the Cardinals for a fun packed evening, culminating in senior night and Battle of the Borders.