BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University senior
Marissa Gross recorded her first career multi-goal game Thursday evening to help the Cardinals blank Our Lady of the Lake, 5-0, at the LU Soccer Complex. This was the 35
th shutout in the
Nathan Kogut era.
LU racked up a season-high 31 shots, including 13 on goal, while holding the Saints to just five. Gross finished with two goals, including her second penalty kick of the season. Other goal scorers were
Kamryn Harvey,
Diem Sealy and
Anneliese Switzer.
Sofia Wilby totaled two of Big Red's five assists, while all three goalkeepers of
Eloise Bywater (three saves),
Keely Thomas (one save) and
Maddie Rich combined for four saves to preserve the shutout.
Seven minutes into the match, Wilby drew a foul in the penalty area, which allowed Gross to step up and convert the penalty kick to open the scoring. Seventeen minutes later, after OLLU stopped another Lamar shot on goal,
Kamdyn Jalayer regained possession and crossed one towards Harvey, who headed in the second goal. The Cardinals added two more goals from Sealy (30
th) and Switzer (33
rd) to end the first half up 4-0.
OLLU nearly broke the shutout in the 56
th minute, but couldn't get past Thomas, who started the second half before being subbed off for Rich. LU continued to press the attack as Gross tallied her second goal in the 64
th minute and nearly recorded a hat-trick a minute later. Big Red did not allow another Saints' shot for the rest of the match.
LU returns to its home venue Thursday, Sept. 10
th to take on Texas A&M-San Antonio. The match is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
