NCAA women’s soccer: Own goal costs Lamar upset bid at Texas A&M
Published 2:48 am Saturday, November 11, 2017
Lamar sports information
COLLEGE STATION – Senior goalkeeper Lauren Lovejoy made spectacular save after spectacular save for Lamar, but a fluke own goal was the difference as No. 6-ranked Texas A&M held off the more than game Cardinals for a 1-0 win in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament First Round game at Ellis Field Friday night.
Lamar ends its historic season with an 18-4-1 overall record. It was a season of firsts for the Cardinals. First regular season conference title, first conference tournament title and first NCAA appearance in the 11-year history of the program.
Statistically, Texas A&M held a distinct advantage, but could not get a shot past Lovejoy and the rest of the Lamar defense. The Aggies out shot Lamar 20 to five, including 10 to one in shots on goal. Texas A&M had nine corner kicks to three for the Cardinals.
Freshman Lucy Ashworth led Lamar with two total shots, including one on goal. Freshman Juli Rocha had the other shot on goal for the Lady Cardinals. Lovejoy made nine saves for the Cardinals.
“It’s a great feeling to go out on this sort of game and it was a really great game by everybody,” said Lovejoy, of Port Neches. “If they had to score an own goal to beat us, then so be it. I’m so proud of the team. I’m so proud of how hard everybody worked and how much effort they gave. It’s an amazing feeling coming off a game like that no matter what the outcome was.”
Texas A&M improves to 18-2-1 on the season and will play the winner of the Notre Dame-IUPUI game next weekend.
About I.C. Murrell
I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
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