Record-Setting Performances Powers Top Seed Lamar to 6-2 Win Against No. 8 Stephen F. Austin
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CONWAY, Ark. – Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year Esther Okoronkwo put on a show in top-seeded Lamar’s 6-2 win over No. 8 Stephen F. Austin, setting conference tournament records for goals (four) and points (eight) in a single match.
In two meetings with the Ladyjacks, Okoronkwo totaled seven goals after she posted a hat trick in a 4-1 win back on October 4. The four scores gives her 23 on the year, snapping the previous league-high of 21 in a single-season.
Player of the Year Lucy Ashworth’s two assists gave her an all-time high of 15 on the year and tied the single-game feat for a conference tournament contest.
Lamar’s top-ranked scoring offense applied pressure early as Madison Ledet had a rocket punched away by Second-Team All-Southland keeper Madeline Talbot in the second minute.
With the Cardinals threatening, an attempted clearance by SFA defender Mari Gillespie took an unfortunate path into the net for an own goal and a 1-0 Lamar lead.
LU struck again just over a minute later after Esther Okoronkwo collected a pass upfield and put one past Talbot for score No. 20 on the year.
Okoronkwo tied the record in the 31
st minute, heading home a textbook cross into the box from Ledet to extend the lead to three.
The Richmond, Texas, native toppled the record three minutes later by finishing off a textbook cross from Lucy Ashworth, who tied the conference’s top mark for single-season assists (14).
Katelyn Termini stopped the bleeding with an impressive run into the box that culminated with a rocket that snuck under the bar to bring SFA within three at 4-1.
However, Okoronkwo answered just 18 ticks later, winning a cross from Ashworth from the defender and netting her fourth of the match. Ashworth’s helper gave her the single-season record for assists.
The Cardinals tacked on a sixth goal in the 78
th minute on an unassisted score into the lower right corner from Anna Loftus, and the Ladyjacks responded in the 82
nd minute on Mattie Musser’s goal.
Lamar advances to Friday’s semifinal round, where the squad will face the winner of No. 4 UIW and No. 5 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.