BEAUMONT, Texas - Surviving a thrilling Southland Conference tournament match against Northwestern State in the semifinals, Lamar University's soccer team makes a return trip back to the SLC title match looking to repeat as conference champions. Standing in their way of their quest are the No. 3 McNeese Cowgirls. Big Red kicks off with the Cowgirls at 1:00 p.m. this Sunday.

Prime Time Friday Night Thriller 
Big Red had to defeat NSU in penalty kicks to advance to the conference title match. Cariel Ellis netted LU's lone goal on assists from Hollie Massey and Kaisa Juvonen while Nicole Panis recorded three saves in the match. The Demons would equalize with 106 seconds to go in the match. Two 10-minute overtime sessions yielded no results before the Cardinals won 5-4 in penalty kicks.  

Unsung Heroes
While Massey netted the first penalty kick and Arely Alaniz tallied the winner, it was three role players that would score three critical penalty goals that gave LU the lead they never relinquished. Following a Demon miss on their second penalty kick attempt, Eva Karen netted the second goal to put LU in front. After each NSU equalizer, Kaitlyn Niemeyer and Annika Kassenbrock kept Big Red in the driver's seat into the fifth round, which would then set up Alaniz's winner.  

A Dynasty in the Making??
This mark's LU's fifth trip to the Southland Conference title game in program history. All-time, the Cardinals are 3-1 in title games. LU's first trip was in 2012 when they fell to Stephen F. Austin 2-1. Five years later, the Cardinals got revenge against the Lumberjacks blanking them 2-0. In 2019, Big Red edged out the Demons 2-1. Last season, with two goals from Ellis, the Cardinals ran over the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions 4-1. Since 2017, the Cardinals have won three conference titles in a seven-year span. 

Previously against McNeese
Big Red defeated the Cowgirls 2-1 in Lake Charles on Oct. 8. Maddie Janolo and Trinity Clark each netted a goal with Ellis recording an assist on the latter. Lamar outshot McNeese 25-9 while Panis put together six saves in goal. That win marked LU's eighth win all-time against the Cowgirls in 15 matches and they are also 5-1-1 in their last seven meetings. 

How Did You Get Here Cowgirls?
As the No. 3 seed, the Cowgirls drew 1-1 with Southeastern Louisiana before winning 4-3 in penalty kicks in Wednesday's first round matchup. As the first of two semifinal games, McN edged out a 1-0 win over seventh-seed Houston Christian. Including a goal in the tournament, Kaile Kukaua leads the team with seven goals and 16 points. The Cowgirls are third in the conference in goals scored (30) and fewest allowed (19) while their goalkeeper Jackie Kelly leads the conference with 93 saves and is second in goals against average (.723) only behind Panis (.529).
 

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