The Lamar Lady Cardinals soccer team represents Lamar University in NCAA Division I college soccer. The team, currently led by head coach Nathan Kogut, competes in the Southland Conference. The team's initial season was 2007. The Lady Cardinals' home stadium is the Lamar Soccer Complex located on the university's campus. The team began playing home games there starting with the 2009 season. The Lady Cardinals home stadium for the first two seasons was Cardinal Stadium now named Provost Umphrey Stadium.
History Lamar University first sponsored soccer in 2007. The team has had five head coaches since its beginning. P. Matthew "Mat" Dillon, the first head coach, led the Lady Cardinals in their initial season, 2007. Dewi Hardman served as head coach from 2008 to 2011. Under Hardman, the Lady Cardinals improved from eighth place in 2008 to a third place conference finish and second conference tournament appearance in 2011. Orlando Cervantes led the Lady Cardinals from 2012 to 2015. The team finished 2012 with a second-place finish in conference and runner-up in the conference tournament. Steve Holeman was head coach for six seasons (2016-2021). While at Lamar, Holeman completed his second season with the Lady Cardinals in 2017 with three firsts for the team. The Lady Cardinals won the Southland Conference regular season championship, the Southland Conference tournament championship, and participated in the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament for the first time in program history. The Lady Cardinals lost their first NCAA Division I tournament match 0–1 in an on goal play. In 2019, the Lady Cardinals repeated winning the Southland Conference regular season championship, the Southland Conference tournament, and participated in the NCAA tournament losing to 14th ranked UCLA 1–4. Holeman was named Southland Conference women's soccer coach of the year in 2017 and 2019. Nathan Kogut, was named head coach on April 20, 2022, replacing Steve Holeman who resigned in February, 2022 to become head coach for the Texas State team. Kogut was named Southland Conference coach of the year in 2022. He was named Southland Conference coach of the year again in 2023. In Kogut's first year with the Cardinals, the Lady Cardinals won the Southland Conference regular season and the 2022 Southland Conference women's soccer tournament championship. They returned to the NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament for the third time losing to LSU 1–3. In Kogut's second year with the Cardinals, the Lady Cardinals won the Southland Conference regular season, and repeated as 2023 SLC tournament champions, the first back to back tournament championship in Southland Conference women's soccer tournament history. The team earned the conference automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament losing to 5th seeded Texas Longhorns 0–2 in Austin, Texas.
Players
Current roster as of 2024 as of August 2, 2024
Coaching staff Source: Position Staff Athletic director Jeff O'Malley Head coach Nathan Kogut Assistant coach Kurt Albrecht Assistant coach Colton Bryant Graduate Assistant Coach Kelsey Brann
Stadium
Construction on the Lamar Soccer Complex began in June, 2009. The first match at the stadium was against the New Mexico State Aggies on September 25, 2009. Approximate field dimensions are 115 yards x 70 yards. The stadium has permanent bleacher seating for 500. Covered benches are available for both teams. The stadium is equipped with lighting, an electronic score board, programmable irrigation, and a fertilization system.
The Lamar Soccer and Softball Complex building, approximately 10,000 sq ft in size, is located between the soccer stadium and the Lamar Softball Complex. It has locker rooms for home and visitors, training facilities, and coaches' offices for both sports. It also has ticketing and concessions. The 2014 and 2018 Southland Conference Women's Soccer Tournaments were held at the stadium.
Cardinal Stadium, now named Provost Umphrey Stadium following a major renovation, was the home field for the team's initial 2 seasons (2007 and 2008).
NCAA Year-by-year results Source: SeasonConferenceCoachOverallConferenceNotesNCAA Year-by-Year Results 2007 Southland P. Matthew "Matt" Dillon 18 0 18 0 9 0 9 0 10th 2008 Southland Dewi Hardman 16 4 11 1 9 2 6 1 8th 2009 Southland Dewi Hardman 18 4 13 1 9 3 6 0 8th 2010 Southland Dewi Hardman 19 5 11 3 10 3 5 2 6th, conference tournament appearance 2011 Southland Dewi Hardman 19 9 8 2 10 6 3 1 3rd, conference tournament appearance Dewi Hardman 72 22 43 7 38 14 20 4 2012 Southland Orlando Cervantes 21 11 9 1 9 6 3 0 2nd, conference tournament runner-up 2013 Southland Orlando Cervantes 19 7 10 2 10 3 6 1 10th 2014 Southland Orlando Cervantes 18 5 11 2 11 3 6 2 8th 2015 Southland Orlando Cervantes 20 8 11 1 11 4 6 1 7th Orlando Cervantes 78 31 41 6 41 16 21 4 2016 Southland Steve Holeman 19 2 14 3 11 1 7 3 12th 2017 Southland Steve Holeman 23 18 4 1 11 10 1 0 1st, SLC regular season champions, SLC tournament champions, NCAA DI tournament appearance 2018 Southland Steve Holeman 20 12 6 2 11 7 2 2 3rd, SLC tournament semi-finals 2019 Southland Steve Holeman 23 16 7 0 11 10 1 0 1st, SLC regular season champions, SLC tournament champions, NCAA DI tournament appearance 2020 Southland Steve Holeman1284010730 2nd, SLC tournament first round 2021 WAC Steve Holeman20108210622 2nd, Southwest Division, WAC Tournament semi-final match Steve Holeman 117 66 43 8 64 41 16 7 2022 Southland Nathan Kogut 19 15 2 2 12 10 1 1 1st, SLC regular season champions, SLC tournament champions, NCAA DI tournament appearance 2023 Southland Nathan Kogut 21 15 3 3 10 9 0 1 1st, SLC regular season champions, SLC tournament champions. NCAA DI tournament appearance 2024 Southland Nathan Kogut 19 5 8 6 10 3 3 4 7th, First round SLC tournament Nathan Kogut 59 35 13 11 32 22 4 6 TeamOverall 344 154 158 32 184 93 70 22 (Results reflect games through Nov 5, 2024.)
Post season appearances
Lamar Lady Cardinals in the NCAA Tournament The NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament started in 1982. The format of the tournament has changed through the years.
20170–1.000College Station, TX Regional; Lost to #6 Texas A&M (0–1) 20190–1.000Los Angeles, CA Regional; Lost to #14 UCLA (1–4) 2022 0–1.000Baton Rouge, LA Regional; Lost to #8 LSU ( 1–3 ) 2023 0–0.000Austin, Texas, FSU Bracket; Lost to #5 Texas ( 0–2 ) TOTALS 0–4 .000 4 NCAA Division I Tournament Appearances
Conference Tournaments Sources: Year Conference Record % NotesSouthland Conference Tournament Results 2010 Southland 0–1 .000 2011 Southland 0–1 .000 2012 Southland 1–1 .500 Tournament runner up 2017 Southland 3–0 1.000 Tournament Champions 2018 Southland 1–1 .500 Tournament semifinals 2019 Southland 3–0 1.000 Tournament Champions 2020 Southland 0–1 .000 First roundWestern Athletic Conference Tournament Results 2021 WAC 1–1 .500 Semi-finalsSouthland Conference Tournament Results 2022 Southland 2–0 1.000 Tournament champions 2023 Southland 1–0–1(tie broken on penalty kicks LU 5–4) Tournament champions 2024 Southland 0–1–0 First round Total 12–7–1 11 Appearances
Awards and honors Sources:
All American Esther Okoronkwo 2020 (3rd)
All Region Lucy Ashworth 2017 (3rd), 2019 (1st) Kelso Peskin 2018 (3rd) Juana Plata 2019 (3rd) Esther Okoronkwo 2019 (1st), 2020 (1st) Madison Ledet 2020 (2nd) Sophia Manibo 2020 (2nd) Christine Kitaru 2021 (3rd) Cariel Ellis 2022, 2023 (2nd) Hollie Massey 2023 (2nd) Arely Alaniz 2023 (3rd) Nicole Panis 2023 (3rd)
Southland Conference
All Conference First Team Jordan Mulnix 2015 Marie Lund 2017 M. J. Ekart 2017 Kelso Peskin 2017, 2018 Lucy Ashworth 2017, 2019 Juliana Ocampo 2018 Juana Plata 2019 Anna Loftus 2019 Esther Okoronkwo 2019 Madison Ledet 2020 Arely Alaniz 2022, 2023 Cariel Ellis 2022, 2023 Kaisa Juvonen 2022, 2023 Kristine Kitaru 2022 Hollie Massey 2022, 2023 Nicole Panis 2022, 2023 Isela Ramirez 2022, 2023 Alana Clark 2023
Player of the Year Lucy Ashworth 2019 Esther Okoronkwo 2020 Hollie Massey 2023
Newcomer of the Year Kelso Peskin 2017 Esther Okoronkwo 2019
Defender of the Year Arely Alaniz 2022, 2023
Forward of the Year Lucy Ashworth 2019 Esther Okoronkwo 2020
Goalkeeper of the Year Nicole Panis 2022, 2023
Midfielder of the Year Juliana Ocampo 2018 Madison Ledet 2020 Alana Clark 2023
Coach of the Year Steve Holeman 2017, 2019 Nathan Kogut 2022, 2023
Yearly attendance
Below is the Lady Cardinals' yearly home attendance since program inception. Season Average HighSoccer Complex Attendance 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 Cardinal Stadium Attendance 2008 2007
The attendance record of 994 was set vs Texas A&M on August 15, 2024. Stadium capacity limited due to COVID19 restrictions.
2024 Lamar Lady Cardinals soccer team
The 2024 Lamar Lady Cardinals soccer team represented Lamar University during the 2024 NCAA Division I women's soccer season. The Lady Cardinals were led by head coach Nathan Kogut, in his third season. They played home games at Lamar Soccer Complex. This was the team's 18th season playing organized women's college soccer including their 17th playing in the Southland Conference and a brief one year membership in the Western Athletic Conference in 2021–22. The Lady Cardinals compiled a 5–8–6 overall record finishing in seventh place in the 2024 Southland Conference regular season with a 3–3–4 conference record. The season ended with a 2024 SLC tournament 1–2 loss to #4 seeded Texas.
Preseason poll The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on August 9, 2024. The Cardinals were picked to finish first in the conference.
1 Lamar 200 (20) 2 Texas A&M–Commerce 177 (2) 3 McNeese 147 4 Northwestern State 130 5 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 112 6 Southeastern Louisiana 105 7 Stephen F. Austin 98 8 Houston Christian 81 9 UT Rio Grande Valley 67 10 Incarnate Word 63 11 Nicholls 30
Players Source: as of August 2, 2024
Coaching staff Source: Position Staff Athletic director Jeff O'Malley Head coach Nathan Kogut Assistant coach Kurt Albrecht Assistant coach Colton Bryant Graduate Assistant Coach Kelsey Brann
Schedule
Source:
!colspan=6 style=""| Exhibition
!colspan=6 style=""| Non-conference regular season
!colspan=6 style=""| Southland Conference Regular season
!colspan=6 style=""| SLC Tournament
2023 Lamar Lady Cardinals soccer team
The 2023 Lamar Lady Cardinals soccer team represented Lamar University during the 2023 NCAA Division I women's soccer season. The Lady Cardinals were led by head coach Nathan Kogut, in his second season. They played home games at Lamar Soccer Complex. This was the team's 17th season playing organized women's college soccer including their 16th playing in the Southland Conference and a brief one year membership in the Western Athletic Conference in 2021–22. The Lady Cardinals clinched a tie for their fourth Southland Conference regular season championship with a win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on October 20. A tie match with Texas A&M-Commerce and Incarnate Word on October 22 gave the Lady Cardinals the outright conference regular season championship. The Lady Cardinals were ranked in the top 25 in a national poll for the first time in program history when they were ranked #24 in the Top Drawer Soccer Week 12 (October 30 to November 5) poll. The season ended with a 2023 NCAA DI tournament 0-2 loss to #5 seeded Texas.
Previous season
The Lady Cardinals won the 2022 Southland Conference regular season championship with a 10-1-1 conference record as well as the 2022 Southland Conference women's soccer tournament for the third time in program history. They received the conference auto-bid to the 2022 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament. The Lady Cardinals' season ended with a 1–3 first round loss to the 8th seeded LSU. The Lady Cardinals overall record was 15–2–2.
Preseason poll