HOUSTON – HCU women's soccer battled to a hard-fought 1-1 draw with league-leading Lamar at Sorrels Field on Sunday evening with Isabella Dillow scoring the tying goal in the 75th minute, less than three minutes after the Cardinals took the lead to keep HCU in the hunt for a share of the regular season Southland Conference title.
Lamar (9-2-5, 6-1-2 SLC) forward Kamryn Harvey was active early, putting two shots on goal within the first few minutes with HCU (8-3-7, 4-0-5 SLC) keeper Emmy McKeon pressed into early saves. Olivia Rossman and Zylee Dominguez both had shot attempts in the first half bith Rossman missing just left while Dominguez missed high.
After going into the half scoreless, McKeon came up with two more saves within the first 10 minutes of the second half on two free kick attempts by the Cardinals. Jasmine Diaz and Paisley Barela both had shots miss off target as the half went on and in the 68th minute Madison Stormberg made a run at the goal but her shot bounced off the crossbar. Four and a half minutes later, Emma Oubrik sent a corner kick long and Sydney Williams sent a rocket of a header to the top left corner for a 1-0 Lamar lead. The Huskies' answer came less than three minutes later on a corner of their own. Dillow knocked home a header off a Dominguez free kick at the 74:42 mark to even the score.
With the tie and the results around the league, the Cardinals sit at the top of the league standings with 20 points while the Huskies are in second with 17 points. With one game remaining, Lamar has assured itself of at least a share of the regular season title while HCU can still earn a share of the title with the No. 1 seed in the SLC Tournament and a first round bye still a possibility.
Dillow's goal is her sixth of the season, moving her into a tie for the team lead, while Dominguez's assist was her second of the year. In goal, McKeon finished with four saves.
Lamar out-shot the Huskies, 11-8, with five shots on goal to the Huskies' one. HCU held a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks earned.
HCU has already clinched its spot in the conference tournament and wraps up the regular season on Thursday, Nov. 5, in San Antonio, Texas against the UIW Cardinals at 7:00 p.m.
