Lamar edges ACU on Senior Night

October 25, 2013

BEAUMONT, Texas – Jennifer Moore made sure Senior Night was one to remember for her and the rest of the Lamar seniors on Friday.

Moore scored the game-winning goal late in the second half to list Lamar to a 2-1 victory over visiting Abilene Christian in a Southland Conference women’s soccer game. It was the second game-winning goal in as many games for Moore, who hadn’t had a game-winning goal in her career until last week.

“All I could here was Jannet (Hernandez) yelling to shoot it,” Moore said of her goal. “I had it on my left foot. I just had to feel comfortable and strike the ball.”

Moore’s shot from about 12 yards out found a way to elude Abilene Christian goalkeeper Kelsey Dombrowski and settle into the back of the net with 14:!3 remaining to break a 1-1 tie.

After that, it was up to the Lamar defense and goalkeeper Bailey Fontenot to shut down the Wildcats as the Cardinals (7-9-1 overall, 4-5-1 Southland) ran their winning streak to three games and kept their hopes alive for a Southland Conference Tournament berth.

With the win, Lamar moved into a tie with Northwestern State for the sixth and final tournament berth with 13 points. Northwestern State (4-4-1 SLC) has a game in hand on the Cardinals, who have two games remaining. Sam Houston State and Nicholls are tied for the fourth spot with 15 points.

The Cardinals battled back from an early 1-0 deficit after Andrea Carpenter gave Abilene Christian (13-4-1, 7-4-0) a 1-0 lead at the 16:32 mark, beating Fontenot from in close.

Hernandez tied the game a little less than four minutes into the second half, cashing in on a penalty kick. It was the fourth penalty-kick goal of her career, extending her own Lamar record.

Lamar, which was outshot 10-7 in the first half, dominated play after intermission, outshooting the Wildcats 11-4 in the second half.

“We wanted this game,” Moore said. “We knew how important it was.”

Fontenot made four saves for the win. Dombrowski made six saves for ACU.

Lamar closes out the home portion of its schedule at 1 p.m. Sunday when it hosts Incarnate Word.

“There’s going to be a lot of emotion, knowing that’s the last time we’ll be playing here,” Moore said. “It’s been a great ride. I’ve enjoyed every bit of it.”

Lamar closes out the regular season at Central Arkansas on Nov. 1.

“We just have to take care of what we can control,” Lamar coach Orlando Cervantes said. “If we do that, I think we’ll be in good shape.”

Sunday’s game is the annual Pink Zone game, with fans encouraged to wear pink to show their support for breast cancer awareness. There will be free pink cupcakes courtesy of Five Point Credit Union. There will be a bounce house for youngsters and parents will receive a free fingerprint registration kit for the children’s safety.

Tickets are available online at www.LamarCardinals.com. Tickets will be available at the Lamar Soccer Complex box office one hour prior to game time.

#LUsoccer

 

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