Lamar sports information

CORPUS CHRISTI – The Lamar Cardinals advanced to the Southland Conference women’s soccer finals for just the second time in program history with a 2-1 win over the Central Arkansas Bears on Friday night.

The top-seeded Cardinals (17-3-1) got goals from M.J. Eckart and Madison Ledet as they avenged their only conference loss of the season, a 4-1 loss at Central Arkansas back on Sept. 22. Since then, the Cardinals have reeled off 11 straight wins.

“Obviously, Central Arkansas beat us 4-1 during the regular season,” LU coach Steve Holeman said. “We remembered that. We came in with a better game plan tonight.”

Eckart put LU on the board with 8:56 remaining in the opening half when she scored on a penalty kick, putting a shot past Central Arkansas starting goalkeeper Anna Hughes. It was Eckart’s sixth goal of the season, and her fourth on a penalty kick.

“M.J. was steady and composed,” Holeman said. “Just like she has been all year.”

Ledet made it 2-0 with her fourth goal of the season, and second of the tournament, on a beautiful solo effort. The freshman raced down the right side of the field before stopping in front of the goal and feathering a shot past Central Arkansas’ Lauren Mercuri, who replaced Hughes at the star of the second half.

Central Arkansas (11-10) wouldn’t go away, however, and got back into the contest when Camille Bassett scored off an Autumn Schwartz corner kick with 30:57 remaining in regulation.

The Bears would get no closer, however, as a stellar LU defense did not allow a shot on goal for the rest of the contest.

“It was a solid defensive effort by both teams,” Holeman said. “We had three shots on goal, and they had two. Both teams played hard for 90 minutes.”

The game got bumptious at times, with 26 fouls being whistled on the evening. Central Arkansas was charged with 14 fouls, while LU was called for 12.

The Cardinals face second-seeded Stephen F. Austin in Sunday’s championship game that will be shown on ESPN3. It’s the first time since 2012 that the top two seeds are in the championship game. That year, Stephen F. Austin was the No. 1 seed and edged the second-seeded Cardinals in a game played at McNeese State.

“We’re going to give it everything we have,” Holeman said of Sunday’s title contest. “It should be a great game.”

LU was a 3-2 winner over Stephen F. Austin earlier this season at the LU Soccer Complex. It was the Cardinals’ first-ever win over the Ladyjacks.

The winner of Sunday’s game receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.