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HOUSTON – HBU women's soccer locked up a spot in the Southland Conference tournament despite losing to SLC co-leader Lamar, 1-0, on Friday evening at Sorrels Field.
 
HBU (6-6-2, 5-3-1 SLC) got a chance early on when a Lamar (13-3-1, 8-1-0 SLC) hand ball in the box set the Huskies up with a penalty kick at the 1:06 mark. Senior Ellee Hall's chance from the spot went high, however. Hall was previously 2-for-2 on pk attempts this season. Madison Ledet was the first Cardinal to put a shot on goal in the 13^th minute but hBU keeper Alanis Guevara made the first of her six saves on the shot. Later in the half, Lamar's Kelso Peskin put a shot on goal at the 34:05 mark with HBU's Casey Basso taking her own attempt one minute later with both being saved. The match went into the half even at 0-0.
 
Lamar came out and quickly got their best look of the night in the 49^th minute. Lucy Ashworth sent a pass down the left side for Amelia Fullmer who controlled it before crossing it into the box to an open Peskin who turned and placed her shot just inside the right post to make it a 1-0 match. The Huskies managed a pair on goal within a one minute span by Noor Abukishk and Whitney Johnson in the 63^rd minute, but LU's Lauren Lovejoy made both saves. Ledet nearly made it 2-0 at the 84:23 mark when her shot bounced off the left post and then Ashworth's attempt on the rebound was stymied by Guevara.
 
Lovejoy made seven saves in earning the win in goal for Lamar while Guevara took the tough loss while making six saves. Shots were nearly even with the Cardinals holding a 16-14 advantage while both put seven on goal. Corner kicks were 9-2 in Lamar's favor.
 
"I thought the effort tonight was good. The girls played hard," said head coach Misty Jones. "Lamar's a good team. They had a nice clinical finish and we didn't finish our chances. We've got to be a little more clinical in the box and take care of the 18's. We put up a good fight, but like I said, Lamar's a good team. They're top of the conference for good reason. Peskin is a pretty special player. I'm excited to maybe see them again in Corpus Christi. I think that, for us, needs to be our focus, looking at these last few games to prepare us for the tournament."
 
With Nicholls losing before the HBU-Lamar match started, the Huskies were assured of a spot in the Southland tournament being held in Corpus Christi, Texas beginning Nov. 1.
 
HBU will host McNeese, tied with Lamar in first in the league, on Sunday, Oct. 22, afternoon at Sorrels Field with kick-off at 1:00 p.m.