Sept. 7, 2008

Box Score

The Lamar women's soccer team fell behind by two goals and were unable to erase the deficit, dropping a 3-1 decision to Louisiana-Lafayette at the Cris Quinn Soccer Complex in west Beaumont on Sunday.

As a result Lamar (1-3) came away with a split in its two weekend contests following Friday's landmark victory over South Alabama.

ULL (1-3-1) held an 18-12 lead in shots and took six corner kicks compared to three for Lamar.

The Ragin' Cajuns opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Heather Fuller fired a ball from 40 yards out that used the moderate wind to sail over the head of LU goalkeeper Jennifer Gibbs and just under the crossbar.

ULL added what turned out to be the game-winner just before halftime - at 43:51 - when it was the beneficiary of a deflected ball that landed right in front of Kristen Conway who had a large portion of the net open from 12 yards. The assist went to Jenn Hungate whose initial shot was blocked but caromed right to Conway.

This came just over a minute after Lamar's Aline Pugliesi put a shot on goal that went just over the crossbar by less than a foot.

Lamar did cut the lead in half at the 55:51 on a Pugliesi goal that left many of the Ragin' Cajun defenders scratching their heads. The LU senior corralled a loose ball outside the penalty area, dribbled through four ULL players and backup goalie Amanda Moorefield for her team-leading second goal of the season.

Both teams put strong scoring chances together over the next 30 minutes. Gibbs corralled a few dangerous ULL crosses in addition to a pair of high shot attempts that she punched either off the crossbar or over the goal. On the ULL end of the field, Beth Squires had the best chance in the 75th minute when her one-timer from Pugliesi went just over the goal.

Chelsea Balestra scored the Cajuns final goal in the 89th minute to provide the final score.

Gibbs finished with five saves, while Moorefield and ULL starter Stephanie Weston made a save each.

Ericka Predmore led LU with four shots with Pugliesi firing three shots with two on goal.

Lamar will continue its eight-game homestand this Friday when it plays host to Prairie View A&M. Kickoff at Cardinal Stadium is set for 7 p.m.