Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT – It took less than 15 minutes for Lamar (1-0) to score its first goal of the season, which opened the flood gates as the Cardinals cruised to a 5-0 victory over Grambling State on Friday evening at the LU Soccer Complex.

Serving as the season opener for both squads, the Cardinals got four goals in the first half and two each from senior Kelso Peskin and sophomore Lucy Ashworth.

LU never really allowed its opponents much of an opportunity to get the offense started. The Lady Tigers were held to just three shots in the opening half and 10 for the game, while the Red and White attempted 21.

“The first 10-15 minutes it looked like it was going to be a close game,” said LU head coach Steve Holeman. “Then we got that first goal and that really kind of opened things up. Grambling is a very good team. We didn’t know what to expect coming into tonight because they didn’t play a preseason game. We knew they played very well in their conference last year. From start to finish, I felt like this was a good game for us.”

One of four seniors on the squad, Peskin was credited with the first goal of the season on a nice feed from goalkeeper Jocelyn Hanrath. A Salt Lake City, Utah, native, Hanrath boomed the ball right down the center of the field to Peskin who made one move to get by the defender and rifled her shot in the back of the net.

It took LU just over 14 minutes to score its first goal of the game, their second would come just 9 minutes later. Ashworth added the second goal on a nice feed from Sophia Manibo to give the Cards a 2-0 advantage.

The Cardinals’ offense wasn’t finished yet, and neither was Ashworth. Just 70 seconds after recording her first goal of the season, Ashworth netted a second, as Big Red built an insurmountable 3-0 lead. Just for good measure, LU tacked on a fourth (Ali Hebert) in the 37th minute of action.

“Our defense played well tonight, which was huge considering we had to make a last-minute scratch,” said Holeman. “Macie just couldn’t go, so we put replaced her with a freshman, Mya Anders, at center back. Mya was solid tonight in her first collegiate start. Our backline was tested, but they withstood the test. Jocelyn (Hanrath) in goal tonight, her first Division I game and she got a clean sheet.”

Riding the wave of a 4-0 lead, it was more of a defensive struggle in the second half. Only one goal was scored, and that coming from Peskin in the 55th minute of action. Peskin took the pass from Manibo for her second assist of the night.

The Cardinals return to action Sunday to face Houston. The game against the Cougars will begin at 7 p.m. from the LU Soccer Complex.