BEAUMONT, Texas - Lamar University (4-5-3, 1-1-2) is welcoming the reigning Southland Conference champion Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks (4-2-7, 2-0-2) to the LU Soccer Complex Sunday. For the first time this season, the match will start at 1:00 p.m. and will also be streamed on ESPN+.
PREVIOUSLY
The Cardinals couldn't overcome a two-goal second-half deficit at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as they fell, 3-2, in their last match. Katherine Williams and Lauren Smith each scored for LU.
SPEEDY KAT
Katherine Williams' goal occurred 25 seconds into the match against the Islanders. This is now the fastest goal scored in Lamar's soccer program history, breaking the previous mark held by Cariel Ellis (2023). Williams is also one of three Cardinals to score the first goal in under a minute, alongside Ellis and Anna Loftus (2019), who tallied hers in 58 seconds.
IX for IX
Lauren Smith (No. 9 on the roster) scored her ninth goal of the season. She becomes the third Cardinal to score nine goals in LU's first 12 games of a season, joining Esther Okoronkwo (2019) and Christine Kitaru (2022). Smith has also tallied a goal in three consecutive contests and four of the last five.
ALL-TIME vs. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
The Cardinals have won five contests in 21 meetings all-time with the Ladyjacks. Last season, SFA shut out the Red Birds, 3-0, in Nacogdoches. The Ladyjacks are in the midst of a four-match winning streak, with LU's last win coming in 2019.
ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
The Ladyjacks are 4-2-7 overall and 2-0-2 in the conference after a 1-0 victory over the Vaqueros. While they are sixth on offense with 1.2 goals per game, it's their defense that has been the story of the season. They lead the conference with seven shutouts and have allowed 1.08 goals against average, which is second to Northwestern State.
REIGNING DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore Bryn Geppert was tabbed as the SLC Defensive Player of the Week. She scored the winning goal against UT Rio Grande Valley, which marked the seventh shutout of the season for the Ladyjacks.
UP NEXT
Lamar remains home Thursday, Oct. 9th, as it will host Southeastern Louisiana at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
#PeckEmCards
