PINEVILLE, La. – The Lamar University Soccer team was on the road yet again for their last non-conference game of the season. This time they matched up against Louisiana College, who entered the match unbeaten in their regular season 4-0-0. LU entered the match with their regular season mark of 3-5 and went looking to add one final victory to the tally. With the start of the first half, LU knew that it was going to be tough to get through onto goal due to deep lying defensive of the Louisiana College Wildcats. The Wildcats hardly got out of their own half, due to their deep defensive nature and the controlling of play from the LU midfield, meant any break away plays were quickly closed down by the LU midfield and defense.
Coming out into the second half it was clear a higher press was needed from LU to break down the defense of Louisiana College. The breakthrough came in the 51st minute, when the Cardinals found themselves on the scoresheet. A cross from Hollie Massey into the box found the head of Laura Linares, the ball gliding into the back of the net, beating the defenders and swiftly past the goalkeeper.
Carina Leal managed to get herself on the scoresheet in the 72nd minute of play, coming in from the left wing, she dribbled past the Wildcat defenders, through onto goal. With her teammates under the impression she was going to cross, she took the challenge on herself, and placed the ball beautifully into the top left corner, beating the goalkeeper nicely. Her third goal of the season.
LU outshot the Wildcats 16 (7) – 6 (4) on the night, which was paired with another solid defensive display from the Cardinals. Keeping another clean sheet this season. Big Red had strong spells of controlling the ball on the backline and distributing it back up the field without too much pressure, leaving the goalkeepers Nicole Panis, and Vivienne Carr with little to do throughout their respective plays during the game. Panis making four comfortable saves from four shots on goal, and Carr left the game without the need to make a save.
Their next game for LU soccer see's the beginning of a new era and with that the commencement of their Western Athletic Conference campaign, where they take on old Southland Conference rival, Abilene Christian University. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday, Sept. 24 from the Elmer Gray Stadium, in Abilene, Texas.
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