Lamar has key conference road trip

by Pat Murray

October 17, 2012

Oct. 17, 2012

BEAUMONT, Texas - The Lamar University women's soccer team travels to Oral Roberts for a battle for second place in the Southland Conference at 7 p.m. Friday.

Friday's game is the opener of a tough-two game weekend road trip for the Lady Cardinals (8-7-1 overall, 4-1 conference), who face league-leading Stephen F. Austin at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Lamar is tied with Oral Roberts (10-4-2, 4-1) for second place heading into the weekend. The Lady Cardinals, Oral Roberts and Stephen F. Austin (12-3, 5-0) are the only three teams to have already secured berths into next month's Southland Conference Tournament.

"We're facing the top two teams in the league this weekend," Lamar coach Orlando Cervantes said. "We have to go one game at a time."

Oral Roberts, which is in its first year of competition in the Southland Conference, is on a four-game winning streak, the same as Lamar. Megan Giles leads the Golden Eagles in scoring with 13 points on four goals and five assists. Keller Kayla has a team-high five goals for Oral Roberts.

"They're a very organized team," Cervantes said of oral Roberts. "They're very technical all over the field. They are a well-coached team."

Stephen F. Austin has outscored its opponents 16-0 in Southland play and 37-7 overall. Kyle Louw (6 goals, 10 assists, 22 points) leads the Lady Jacks in scoring. Chelsea Raymond has nine goals and two assists for 20 points.

"Stephen F. Austin is definitely a strong team," Cervantes said. "We have to be at the top of our game to beat them."

Kimmy Albeno, who scored her school-record ninth goal of the season in last week's win over Central Arkansas, leads Lamar in scoring with 21 points, which ties Lisa Hance's single-season mark. Kristin Bos has added eight goals for the Lady Cardinals this season.

Lamar goalkeeper Bailey Fontenot leads the conference in saves per game at 7.80 in Southland play. Fontenot has stopped 39 of 41 shots in Southland games, for a .951 save percentage, second only to Lacey Lee of Stephen F. Austin, who has stopped all 12 shots she has faced.

Following this weekend's games, Lamar returns home to close out the regular season against Sam Houston State at 7 p.m. Oct. 26.

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