NATCHITOCHES, La. – Playing for a Southland Conference Tournament Championship, the Lamar Cardinals pulled away from the Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team, 4-1, at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon.
 
Playing in its first Division I season and first Southland Conference season, the Lions, under the direction of first-year coach Ashley Gordon, finish the season with a record of 9-9-2 and finished third in the SLC during the regular season.
 
Lamar, the conference's regular champion and tournament champion, advances to the NCAA Tournament and holds a record of 15-1-2 this season, winning all three matches against A&M-Commerce this season.
 
The Lion goalkeepers recorded 28 saves in the three matches this weekend, which is a new Southland Conference Tournament record.


POST MATCH INTERVIEW
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Ashley Campuzano (Dallas – Atlas Prep), Mya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn), Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Riders), and Jen Peters (Allen) were named to the all-tournament team for the Lions. Full all-tournament team can be found below.
 
Christine Kitaru – Lamar (Most Valuable Player)
Cariel Ellis – Lamar
Laura Linares – Lamar
Abby Gemza – Lamar
Nicole Panis – Lamar
Ashley Campuzano – A&M-Commerce
Mya Mitchell – A&M-Commerce
Mindy Shoffit – A&M-Commerce
Jen Peters – A&M-Commerce
Gracie Armstrong – Northwestern State
Kat Lazor – Houston Christian
 
The Lions had just one shot on goal in the first half, but it ended up in the back of the net. In the 19^th minute, Campuzano took a corner that was headed in by Hailey Griffin (Trophy Club – Byron Nelson), but it bounced off the crossbar. Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Rider) got the rebound and kicked it in for the first goal of the day.
 
In all three meetings this season between the two teams, the Lions drew first blood.
 
In the first half, the Cardinals put 16 shots on the board, including eight on goal. Jen Peters (Allen) saved seven of the eight shots she faced. Christine Kitaru scored in the 32^nd minute to tie the match at one.
 
The Cardinals' onslaught of shots continued in the second half, and they took the lead in the 57^th minute. Kitaru had an open look at the goal and took the shot, which was acrobatically saved by Peters, but Cariel Ellis was right there for the rebound and kicked it in.
 
Kitaru added her second goal of the day in the 76^th minute on an assist from Ellis, who scored in the 88^th minute, unassisted.
 
Peters recorded 12 saves, which are tied for third most in program history. Sunday was her final match as a Lion, she finishes her career with 242 saves, which is fifth in program history.
 
Ellis, Kitaru, and Laura Linares had seven shots each for Lamar, who outshot A&M-Commerce 29-12. For the Lions, Shoffit had three shots. Nicole Panis faced six shots in goal during the second half and saved all six, the only goal she allowed was the lone shot she faced in the first half.
 
A&M-Commerce returns all but two starters that started Sunday's match next season and all five players that garnered All-Southland Conference honors this season.