BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University, having clinched a share of the Southland Conference regular-season title, will look to secure sole possession of the championship and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament when it hosts McNeese in its final home match of the season Thursday at the LU Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and the match will stream on ESPN+.
 
PREVIOUSLY
LU (9-2-5, 6-1-2 SLC) clinched a share of the title after tying Houston Christian, 1-1, Sunday in Houston. Sydney Williams scored the Cardinals' lone goal off a corner kick from Emma Oubrik.
 
SOUTHLAND SCENARIO
The Cardinals hold a three-point lead over HCU and need either a win or a tie Thursday to claim the conference regular-season title outright. If Lamar loses, an HCU tie or loss against UIW would still allow the Cardinals to secure the top seed.
 
THE INCREDIBLE DOZEN
The Cardinals will recognize 12 seniors for their contributions to the program before the match. Those being honored are Reese Burch, Mariana Cardenas, Chloe Ezell, Marissa Gross, Christina Guzman, Kamryn Harvey, Kamdyn Jalayer, Kaitlyn Niemeyer, Emma Oubrik, Maddie Rich, Anneliese Switzer and Riley Wilson.
 
MAINTAIN HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE
Lamar is 5-0-2 at home this season and will look to finish the regular season unbeaten at home for the first time since 2017. That year, the Cardinals won all eight home matches and finished 18-4-1 overall while capturing their first Southland Conference regular-season title with a 10-1-0 league record and winning the conference tournament championship.
 
ALL-TIME VS. MCNEESE
The Cardinals hold a 10-7-1 series advantage over McNeese. Last season, Sofia Wilby scored her first career goal in Lake Charles, La., but LU fell, 2-1, after a late comeback attempt.
 
ABOUT THE COWGIRLS
McNeese (9-6-3, 4-2-3 SLC) ended Northwestern State's bid to repeat as regular-season conference champion with a 4-1 victory Sunday afternoon. Sumayah Brown scored her fourth game-winning goal of the season, leaving her one behind Marissa Gross for the league lead. Goalkeeper Celeste Marijnissen recorded six saves while playing all 90 minutes.
 
IRRESISTIBLE FORCE VS. THE IMMOVABLE OBJECT
Thursday's match features the conference's top two defensive teams. The Cardinals lead the league with a 0.69 goals-against average, while McNeese enters with a 1.17 GAA. LU senior goalkeeper Keely Thomas leads all conference goalkeepers in save percentage (.881) and fewest goals allowed (five). McNeese's Shannon Dempsey ranks second with an .870 save percentage and eight goals allowed.
 
UP NEXT
Pending the outcome of Thursday's match, the Cardinals will enter the Southland Conference Tournament as a top-two seed. If LU earns the No. 1 seed, it will receive a first-round bye and will not play until Thursday at 3:30 p.m.