HAMMOND, La. - For the second season in a row, Lamar University's soccer team traveled to Hammond to meet with Southeastern and were forced to finish the match with 10 players due to a red card. But much like last year, the Cardinals overcame that challenge and made it eight straight wins with a 1-0 shutout over the Lions.
Isela Ramirez scored the lone Cardinal goal for LU on an assist from Hollie Massey and Cariel Ellis, who led the entire team with five of the 13 shots taken. Arely Alaniz would put up four shots while Nicole Panis picked up two saves of the four shots she faced from SLU.
The first half was a Cardinal controlled half as LU fired 80 percent of the 10 total shots taken. The Lions would get the first opportunity to score in the 12th minute, which Panis held on with no trouble. As the second half began, it would be Ramirez who on the assists from Ellis and Massey that struck her fourth goal of the season for a 1-0 lead.
SLU had their lone opportunity to equalize in the 67th minute, which Panis once again came up with the save. But the Cardinals had to deal with three yellow cards and when a red card was assessed to them in the 71st minute, they had to hang on with 10 players. Fortunately, the top-ranked defense in the conference lived up to their reputation as they held the Lions to one wide shot for the rest of the match preserving their eighth straight win.
Although head coach Nathan Kogut admits the Cardinals were not enitrely efficient, the ability to find ways to win was what led to another 2-0 weekend. "I am relieved to get out of the weekend with two wins on the road against difficult opponents," said head coach Nathan Kogut. "Southeastern came in with a great game plan and played so well so I am pleased to get away with three points. We weren't sharp enough this weekend, but we showed a lot of our character and resolve in both games. We made things more difficult than it needed to be at times and we know we need to clean a lot up, but I am glad to still be undefeated in conference and ready to get another home game in front of our fans this week"
LU will continue facing off with Louisiana Southland Conference schools as they will host Northwestern State this coming Friday night at 7:00 p.m at the LU Soccer Complex.
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