BEAUMONT, Texas — Mounting a two goal comeback in the final five minutes of the game, Lamar University (10-6, 7-1 SLC) held off the University of the Incarnate Word (7-8, 6-2 SLC) to take a 3-2 victory and sole possession of the Southland Conference lead on Sunday.
Lamar out shot UIW 12-6 in the first half but was outscored 2-1. Ashworth figured prominently in the opening 45 minutes with five shots including three on-goal. The junior from Manchester, England, had her first shot in the fifth minute saved on a free kick from 20 yards out, and in the eighth minute Ashworth's shot hammered off the crossbar. Esther Okoronkwo had a shot from 10 yards out rebound off the top right corner in the 11th minute, and Ashworth's attempt in the 15th drifted just high thanks to blistering gusts of up to 20 mph.
Lamar took a 1-0 lead off Ashworth's goal early in the 17th minute. A free kick five yards from goal and to the right bent around the UIW keeper as Ashworth made a great use of the wind.
Erin Branch made the first of her four saves on the day in the 19th minute, smothering a shot from the "other" Cards. Jade Piper managed to get one by Branch in the 21st minute though, finding space in a chaotic bunch up in front of the LU goal. The score was tied at 1-1 until UIW's Brooke Hanson bent a shot around Branch to put UIW ahead 2-1 in the 37th minute. As the clock wound down on the first half Kaisa Juvonen had a shot blocked that could have been the equalizer.
UIW switched to an aggressive defense in the second half, out-fouling Lamar 7-6 with four second-half yellow cards. Big Red fought through the aggression and matched the "other" Cards shot for shot. Some of the best offensive opportunities for LU came midway through the closing 45. Ashworth danced up the field on the far side to get a 15-yarder narrowly saved, and Anna Loftus had a shot blocked. Ashworth again found free space when she was fouled in the 74th minute and had her free kick sail over the net, and in the 77th minute Okoronkwo's shot was blocked. Okoronkwo's attempt in the 79th caught the wind and again carried just above the net.
Lamar finally found the equalizer in the 87th minute. Juana Plata worked her way downfield in an aggressive counter attack and spotted Okoronkwo sprinting up the middle. Plata deftly placed it at Okoronkwo's feet, and Okoronkwo evened it up at 2-2 with the goal.
The Plata to Okoronkwo connection again came into play just a minute later. Plata found Okoronkwo in front of the net and the junior from Richmond, Texas, put Lamar ahead with just over two minutes to go. Lamar held off the mad scramble by UIW in the closing seconds and won 3-2.
The Cards travel to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (8-6-1, 5-2-1) on October 25 and head from there to Houston Baptist (2-12, 1-6 SLC) on October 27. The Battle of the Border on Nov. 1 will pit Lamar against cross-state rival McNeese (9-6, 5-3 SLC) with potential SLC title implications.
Lamar women's soccer wins 3-2 thriller over UIW
The Cards travel to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (8-6-1, 5-2-1) on October 25