Box Score BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University finished their regular-season off with a victory against rival McNeese, 3-0, Friday evening at the LU Soccer Complex. Senior night went well for Lamar's only senior – Macie McFarland – as she helped her team pick up their ninth straight win. The team is on a hot streak as they prep for next week's Southland Conference tournament.
 
"It's been a fantastic year. We've taken it one game at a time all year and game after game we continue to find a way to win," said head coach Steve Holeman. "We have a bit of a winning streak. We've got a lot of momentum right now. We are playing really well. It's a good time to be playing your best."
 
It took the Cardinals only 14 minutes to get on the board. After a ball had been bouncing around, it ended up at the feet of sophomore Anna Loftus. With the ball at the top of the box and defenders closing in, Loftus took the shot. The ball traveled through the air, through the cluster of defenders, and into the upper left corner of the goal. She put the ball just where it needed to be, and the Cards were up 1-0.
 
The second goal came in the 28^th minute when junior Esther Okoronkwo connected with junior Madison Ledet. The Cardinals were on the attack when Okoronkwo had the ball with her back to the goal. She saw a teammate to her left and made the pass. Ledet received the ball with work to do. She dribbled for a few seconds to shake off a defender and lined up the shot. She struck the ball low and hard, and it found the bottom left corner. The strike, coming from 20 yards away, put the Cardinals up 2-0.
 
Lamar faced a line of fire in the second half, but they held it off. McNeese came out of the half with nothing to lose and took their chances with 14 shots. Sophomore Sandra Nygard was on her game tonight with 7 saves to keep the Cowgirls off the scoreboard. She did her job, and with help from her defense, she secured the clean sheet.
 
When the game was just about over, the Cardinals had one more goal in them. Junior Lucy Ashworth lined up a free kick from the right side of the box. She played a cross to the far post and found junior Sophia Manibo. Manibo played to ball back across the box into the path of freshman Kaisa Juvonen, who finished the play. She hit the ball to the bottom right corner of the net to give the Cardinals the 3-0 win.
 
Senior Macie McFarland was honored tonight as the only senior on the team. Her experience and talent this season has helped Lamar win the Southland Conference. This is McFarland's second conference title, and her third trophy at Lamar. Coach Holeman said, "She's been a special player for us for four years, and she's laid the groundwork for years to come."
 
The Cardinals have wrapped up their regular season, but will now head to the Southland Conference Championships in Conway, Ark. They will begin the tournament on Nov. 6 against Stephen F. Austin at 5 p.m.