BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University will look to move up towards the top of the Southland Conference standings when it hosts conference co-leader UIW Thursday at the LU Soccer Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
PREVIOUSLY
The Cardinals (6-2-4, 3-1-1 SLC) snapped a six-year losing streak to Stephen F. Austin with a 2-1 victory Sunday afternoon. Marissa Gross and Sofia Wilby scored the goals, with Wilby netting the game-winner. Diem Sealy added an assist.
 
IN CONTENTION FOR THE SOUTHLAND GOLDEN BOOT
Gross is one of five players in the SLC tied for second with seven goals. She joins Katie Porter (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi), Emily Gundin (Northwestern State), Alyce Chapelle (Stephen F. Austin) and Alexandria Knight (Southeastern Louisiana). Only Paige Baumgartner leads the conference with eight goals.
 
SOUTHLAND UPDATE
LU sits fourth in the conference standings with 10 points, trailing UIW (4-1 SLC, 12 points), Northwestern State (4-1 SLC, 12 points) and McNeese (3-1-2 SLC, 11 points). Houston Christian (2-0-3 SLC) and Nicholls (2-1-3 SLC) are tied for fifth with nine points, while Southeastern Louisiana (2-3-1 SLC) sits three points behind the Cardinals. 
 
LAMAR UNIVERSITY = DEFENSIVE U
The Cardinals own a 0.83 goals-against average, remain the only Southland Conference team with a sub-1.00 GAA and have allowed just 10 goals this season. Goalkeeper Keely Thomas has surrendered just four goals and leads the conference with a 0.59 GAA, which ranks 29th nationally. Her .857 save percentage ranks second in the conference behind only McNeese's Shannon Dempsey (.885). As a team, Big Red has produced five shutouts this season and 37 in the Nathan Kogut era.
 
ALL-TIME VS. UIW
Big Red is 7-0-6 all-time against UIW but has tied each of the past two meetings. Last season, LU raced out to a 2-0 lead, with Gross and Riley Wilson recording assists, before UIW rallied for a 2-2 draw.
 
ABOUT THE OTHER CARDINALS
UIW (7-5-2, 4-1 SLC) enters Thursday's match on a three-match win streak after a 3-0 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Louise Coates, Montanna Matthews and Joella Livingston each scored, while goalkeeper Hannah Alexander made seven saves to record her fifth shutout of the season, the second-most in the conference.
 
UP NEXT
Big Red returns to the LU Soccer Complex on Sunday, Oct. 22, to host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.