Lamar Soccer Hosts Central Arkansas Friday to Open Southland Conference Play

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This will be the SLC opener for both the Cardinals and Sugar Bears, who were SLC newcomers last year.

Oct. 4, 2007

BEAUMONT - In a year of firsts for the Lamar University women's soccer team, the Lady Cardinals will host Central Arkansas in their first-ever Southland Conference game Friday at 7 p.m. in Cardinal Stadium.

Lamar is 0-8 on the season while Central Arkansas enters tonight's contest with a 3-5 record. The Bears were newcomers to the SLC last season and would have qualified for the postseason tournament, but are unable to for another three years as they transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I.

"For us, this starts a brand new season and Friday's game is the most important of the season," said Lamar coach Matthew Dillon on what he told the team this week about starting SLC play. "UCA was new to the conference last season and they are a quality team with at least one year of Division I play under their belt. There are definitely no easy teams from here on out for us.

"We did a lot of shooting this week and worked a lot on offense. We also continued to work on possessing the ball, which is were the offense really starts. We also worked some on defense. The defense isn't as far along as I hoped it'd be and we've definitely allowed more goals that I thought we would, but we've also played against some very good competition. Hopefully, that has prepared us for the start of SLC play."

Beth Squires, a freshman from Hurst, leads the team with 11 shots, including three on goal. Stefani Turner, a freshman from Corpus Christi, is second on the team with eight shots, two of which have been on goal.

Lamar is averaging 5.4 shots per game and has 14 total shots on goal. Defensively, opponents are averaging 32.6 shots per game and have 147 total shots on goal. The Cardinals have taken 16 corner kicks compared to 68 by opponents and Lamar has committed 40 fouls compared to 69 by opponents.

Ashley Line leads UCA with six points, scoring two goals and collecting two assists. Lauren Carter has five points on two goals and one assist. Randi Condley leads the team with 21 shots, including 13 on goal.

UCA is averaging 13.8 shots per game and has 64 total shots on goal while its opponents are averaging 14.0 shots per game and have 47 total shots on goal. UCA has taken 20 corner kicks and has committed 85 fouls.

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