BEAUMONT, Texas – It was a quiet night under the lights for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Lamar soccer teams, as the two ended squared at 0-0 in a physical battle through the end Friday at LU Soccer Field.
The Islanders (5-2-5, 2-0-2 SLC) kept their undefeated conference record intact, and have not dropped a contest within the last seven games which breaks the program record for longest unbeaten streak. The previous mark was six, achieved once each in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
It also extends A&M-Corpus Christi's best start to conference play, entering the night already having made history after not dropping a decision within the first three games of the league schedule and now making it four games.
It marks the first-ever tie between the two programs after Lamar, who is the two-time reigning SLC Champion, managed to just escape the Islanders in recent seasons.
"We got better tonight and that's the most important thing," said head coach
Daniel Clitnovici. "This is an important tie for us because Lamar has been a Southland Conference powerhouse for many seasons now, so to come here on their turf and play toe-to-toe with them is a testament to the resiliency that this Islanders group has.
"I think a tie is a fair result. As much as we dominated that first half, I think Lamar stepped up and pushed us in the second half. Both teams went for it from end to end and it was a great game for the neutral."
It marks senior
Zoe Theriot and the Islanders' defense's fourth shutout of the year and second in conference play. Theriot now leads the league with the four this season while her nine saves on the night improves her conference-only saves/game mark to 5.00 which ranks her second. Her save percentage of a .909 in conference play ranks her first among all goalies.
"I'm really proud of the team, the entire group: the ones that played and the ones that didn't play all contributed to this tie tonight. The positive energy was contagious, but we have to regroup now and start prepping for SFA on Sunday," said Clitnovici.
The Islanders will look to keep their untouched streak alive, finishing out their longest road swing of the year Sunday at SFA in a 1 p.m. matchup. SFA currently leads the Southland standings with a 4-1 league record.
#ShakasUp
