No. 1 Lamar advances to Southland Championship final with 1-0 win over No. 4 HCU
NATCHITOCHES, La. – Laura Linares rifled in a free kick goal from just outside the penalty area in the 34
th minute to give top-seeded Lamar a 1-0 win over fourth-seed HCU in the first semifinal of the 2022 Southland Conference Women’s Soccer Championship on Friday.
Lamar advances to the conference tournament final for the fourth time in program history with the victory and moves its record to 14-1-2 on the season. The Cardinals will play the winner of the Northwestern State/Texas A&M-Commerce semifinal at 1 p.m. Sunday in the championship match. HCU’s season ends with a record of 7-10-3.
The Cardinals were the aggressors throughout the match, outshooting the Huskies 21-11, with 11 shots on goal to HCU’s three. HCU goalkeeper Chloe Bagshaw had made three first half saves before Lamar’s Christine Kitaru was fouled just outside the box in the 34
th minute. Linares calmly hammered the shot to the left of Bagshaw, who was able to get a hand to shot, but unable to keep it from going in the goal. The goal was Linares’ fourth of the season.
After the goal, HCU was able to get chances on goal, but Southland Goalkeeper of the Year Nicole Panis was able to turn those opportunities away, making three saves down the stretch.
Lamar pushed to extend its lead in the second half, with a late shot hitting the crossbar, but the Cardinals had to settle for the one-goal win.
NOTES
• Lamar were conference tournament champions in 2017 and 2019. The Cardinals’ other finals appearance was in 2012.
• A Northwestern State win in today’s second semifinal would create a rematch of the 2019 tournament final.
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