NICHOLLS, La. - Lamar University's defense held Nicholls to four shots the entire match as the Cardinals posted their fourth shutout of the season, but settled for a scoreless draw Sunday at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex. By gaining a point in the Southland Conference standings, the Cardinals are tied for fifth with McNeese, who lost to Northwestern State.
LU (5-6-5, 2-2-4 SLC) outshot the Colonels (4-7-5, 1-3-4 SLC) 18-4, including seven on goal. Goalkeeper
Maddie Rich started for the Cardinals and tallied two saves in goal. Big Red also posted five corner kick chances and drew nine fouls.
The first 45 minutes foreshadowed the defensive struggle that played out. During the opening half, both teams could muster just four shots. The Cardinals had two chances in the 22nd minute to get on the board first, but were denied both times. Rich kept the Colonels off the scoreboard with saves in the 24th and 30th minutes. Neither side could put one through the net as the contest was scoreless at the half.
The Cardinals prevented Nicholls from getting a shot off in the second half. Big Red had the Colonels playing on their own end as it fired 14 shots, including four that were kept out by Nicholls' goalkeeper. In the final minute, LU's last shot to win the match went off-target, and both teams left the field with the final score of 0-0.
"We created too many dangerous chances to walk off the field scoreless," said head coach
Nathan Kogut. "I thought for large stretches today we executed everything we asked our players to do, but just missed that final third piece. We know we have to get ready for a big match Thursday night with the league leaders coming to Beaumont to clinch a title."
Big Red returns home to the LU Soccer Complex this Thursday to take on SLC leader Northwestern State. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m., and will be streamed on ESPN+.
