CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - All throughout the season, Lamar University's soccer team displayed multiple traits that have helped them reach the conference tournament: a explosive, striking offense, and a tough as nails defense that have conceded fewer goals than anyone in the Southland Conference. But against fourth-seed Northwestern State in their first conference tourney matchup, the Cardinals displayed a third trait, the heart of a champion, as they would require 120 minutes and five rounds of penalty kicks to edge out the Demons 1-1 (5-4 PK).

Cariel Ellis netted the lone goal for Big Red as it came off the assists from Hollie Massey and Kaisa Juvonen. Massey would be one of five Cardinals to score in the penalty kicks along with Arely Alaniz, Kaitlyn Niemeyer, Eva Karen, and Annika Kassenbrock. Nicole Panis made three saves on the night in goal for the Cardinals. 

The first half proved to be evenly matched defensively. While LU had the early momentum creating opportunities to score, the Demons would not back down as they cut the shots gap to 4-3. Two big breaks came for the Cardinals as the Demons would have one shot hit the post and nearly trickle over the goal line while another went over the net. LU finished with three shot opportunities, but yielded no goals as the first half ended scoreless. 

When the second half started, NSU recorded a shot that Panis was able to get her hands on to have her first save of the match. Each side traded a shot opportunity before Juvonen fed Massey, who tipped it to Ellis. That left Ellis enough room to strike the bottom left corner with her right foot and give LU a 1-0 lead. This lead would hold until with about 106 seconds to go when NSU's Sabrina Lopez lifted one over Panis to equalize for the tying goal. Time ran out in regulation as the two teams struggled into overtime. 

In the two 10-minute overtime sessions, each team traded a half in which they put up three shots. Big Red had an early chance at the lead when a shot was deflected off a Demon defender with no goalkeeper in net. However,  nothing was decided after 120 minutes and penalty kicks were needed. 

Having won their first match by way of PK's, the Demons struck the first goal in the penalty shootout. Massey stepped first for LU and would equalize. It was NSU's second penalty kick that proved to be the difference as their attempt went wide left. Karen, Niemeyer, and Kassenbrock would follow with goals to keep LU in front. After the Demons tied the shootout at four, it was Alaniz who sent both NSU packing and LU into the conference title game for the second straight season. 

"What a great showcase for Southland soccer tonight," said a happy and excited head coach Nathan Kogut. "That was two good teams battling and it's a shame someone goes home after that game. I'm so proud of this team for finding a way to get a shot at another championship this weekend. I really can't say enough about how tough and resilient these young women are."

With 15 straight undefeated matches riding into Sunday, Big Red will look to repeat as conference champions when they will take on No. 3 seed McNeese at 1:00 p.m.