BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University is ready to kick off the 2026 campaign as it will travel west to El Paso to take on UTEP Wednesday. The match starts at 8 p.m. Central and will be streamed on the Mountain West Network.
 
PREVIOUSLY
The Cardinals completed their preseason 2-0 with a 1-0 shutout victory over the reigning Sun Belt regular season champion, UL Monroe, at the LU Soccer Complex Sunday evening. Sydney Williams scored the game's only goal on an assist from Christina Guzman while goalkeepers Keely Thomas and Maddie Rich each recorded a save. LU scored a total of six goals in its two exhibition contests while conceding zero.
 
STARTING ON THE ROAD
Big Red is 2-6 all-time when beginning the season on the road. (This does not include neutral site games). The last victory for LU came back in 2020 when the Cardinals defeated Texas State, 1-0, in San Marcos.
 
BACK TO EL PASO, SYDNEY WILLIAMS
Sydney Williams will make her return to University Field after spending her freshman season with the Miners in 2024. While there, she appeared in 16 games for 880 minutes on the field, took 10 shots and contributed a game-winning assist in a victory over Sam Houston. Her play would garner her Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors.
 
ALL-TIME vs. UTEP
The Cardinals have split their two meetings all-time with UTEP. The last match saw a 3-2 win over the Miners in El Paso back in 2015.
 
ABOUT THE MINERS
UTEP went 3-9-5 last season, averaging 0.76 goals per game while allowing 1.41 per game. Dannique Wilson was second on the team with six points (four assists, one goal). Goalkeeper Savanah Finley recorded 45 saves in goal and had a goals against average of 1.42 to go along with four shutouts.
 
UP NEXT
LU will open the home portion of its schedule Sunday as the Cardinals host Sam Houston at the LU Soccer Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 

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