BEAUMONT, Texas -
Lauren Smith gave a much-needed boost to Lamar University with two goals while the defense shut out Southland Conference leader Northwestern State, 2-0, Thursday at the LU Soccer Complex. It was the perfect way to send out the 2025 senior class as LU gained three points and currently sit in fourth place overall.
In its fifth shutout of the season, Lamar (6-6-5, 3-2-4 SLC) put together 15 shots while holding the conference's scoring leaders to nine. Smith's two goals were both assisted on by
Kam Jalayer and have also given her the SLC lead with 12.
Maddie Rich started and recorded her second straight shutout while picking up three saves.
The Cardinals controlled the action early on as they had three scoring chances in the first 20 minutes. LU nearly grabbed the early lead after a shot trickled just outside the post.
In the final 15 minutes, the Demons turned up the heat and created opportunities of their own. In the 32nd minute, NSU had a shot that was saved by Rich. Both teams went into the locker room scoreless.
In what has been a recurring pattern as of late, the Cardinals' dominant second-half play returned as they outshot NSU, 11-3. Rich thwarted a pair of NSU shots in the 50th and 61st minutes to keep the game scoreless. Then, Big Red broke through in the 77th minute as Jalayer crossed the ball for Smith to head in the first goal. Six minutes later, Jalayer found Smith again, who lobbed one over the Demons' kicker to ice the 2-0 win for the Cardinals.
"What a fantastic result tonight against the league leaders," said head coach
Nathan Kogut. "Our players absolutely bought in to the game plan and executed as well as any team we've had. Our back line was excellent, and our attackers generated a lot of chances. Lauren was able to get two good goals and we saw the game out. It's always great to get a home win and even better to win it like that on Senior Night."
With one game to play, LU will head down to Edinburg to meet with UT Rio Grande Valley Thursday, October 30th. The match will start at 6:30 p.m.
