The Lamar Cardinals soccer team jumped to first place in the Southland Conference standings after beating the University of Incarnate Word, 1-0, Oct. 15 at the LU Soccer Complex.
LU’s winning goal being scored by captain and central midfielder/forward Marissa Gross. She is currently the leading scorer on the team with eight goals this season.
Gross said that last year she only scored two goals, so having quadrupled that is exciting and she is going to work hard for more goals.
Before the match, UIW had been in first place in the conference with 12 points. Lamar has two games left, and moved to the top of the standings.
“(UIW) were in first for a reason,” head coach Nathan Kogut said. “They had beaten the defending conference champs that we had lost to. They’re good. They played a tough schedule to set them up to be successful just like this.”
After the game, Kogut said the team was in good shape to finish the regular season.
“I like where we’re at,” Kogut said. “I know that we’ve got a long way to go. We’ve got four really big games. This probably put a target on our back, but yes, I love what we’re doing, and I know that we’re not done.”
Kogut said that the team has had several standout players this season, including Gross, defender Riley Wilson, and defender/forward Christina Guzman.
“So, Marissa Gross, our captain, she’s been fantastic,” he said. “Our backline, you got Riley Wilson, Christina Guzman. I think they’re both defenders of the year. Goalkeepers, we have three really good ones that are keeping us in the games. I mean, I could go on and on.”
Central midfielder Sophia Wilby gave props to her teammates.
“I think defense was a really big part of it,” she said. “The goal is what makes us win, but without the defending at the end, we’re not going to get the win. We’re just very positive, upbeat in the changing room. We’re just laughing, dancing — doing silly things.”
Gross said the squad has great chemistry.
“I haven’t been on a team that’s been this close,” she said. “We have a great culture. We always laugh, and it helps on the field, because we have each other’s backs. So, when it gets hard like this, it always pushes us.”
Kogut said he believes the team has earned their success, and said they need to keep that momentum going.
“I don’t want this to be the highlight of the year, I’ll say that,” he said.
The Cardinals close out the season with a road game against Houston Christian, Nov. 1, and a home game against McNeese, Nov. 5. Kick off against the MSU is 7 p.m.