HOUSTON – Two quick goals early in the second half spelled doom for the Lamar Cardinals in a 5-3 loss to the host Rice Owls in a non-conference women’s soccer game Friday.

Lamar (3-3-0) seemed to have momentum going into intermission after Jannet Hernandez scored in the dying minutes of the first half to tie the game at one. That momentum didn’t last long, however, as Lauren Hughes scored just 18 seconds into the second half to give Rice (2-2-2) the lead for good.

Holly Hargreaves scored a little more than three minutes later on an assist from Hughes to make it 3-1, but the Cardinals would not go down quietly. Seconds after Lamar goalkeeper Bailey Fontenot robbed Hargreaves from point-blank range, Lamar’s Jennifer Yacuta cut the LU deficit to 3-2.

The Owls came back with two goals of their own minutes apart to put the game out of reach,

But Lamar refused to roll over and cut the deficit to 5-3 when Hernandez converted a penalty kick with less than five minutes remaining for her second goal of the night.

“We can play with Rice, but we had too many defensive breakdowns that cost us,” Lamar coach Orlando Cervantes said. “We have to put this behind us and get ready for UMass on Sunday.”

The Cardinals will face the Minutewomen in a non-conference game at Tomball High School in Tomball, Texas. Sunday’s game will wrap up Lamar’s non-conference schedule this season.

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