HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana junior Lauren Lorentz headed in a corner kick by sophomore Ana Zadro in the 75^th minute to give the Lady Lion soccer team a 1-0 victory over Abilene Christian in Southland Conference women's soccer action Sunday afternoon at Strawberry Stadium.
 
With the victory, SLU (8-1-1, 3-0 Southland) extended its unbeaten streak to seven matches and its win streak to four matches. The only team in the Southland to make it through the first two weeks of league play unbeaten and untied, the Lady Lions sit alone atop the Southland Conference standings. Abilene Christian fell to 2-7-2 overall and 1-1-1 in league action.
 
"We played against a very talented Abilene Christian team today," Southeastern head coach Blake Hornbuckle said. "We were pleased with the effort and we feel very fortunate to get a win against a tough ACU team. We're excited about how conference play has started. We have to continue to build momentum and get better each day, as we head into a difficult road weekend."
 
Junior goalkeeper Hope Sabadash earned her sixth shutout of the season for SLU, finishing with six saves. Lorentz, senior Maddie Allen, senior Cheyenne Maxwell, freshman Christina Čutura and sophomore Maddie Kresevic all contributed to a back line effort that held the visiting Wildcats to eight shots.
 
"Maddie Kresevic was a great ball winner for us today and was instrumental in generating set pieces for us, especially in the second half," Hornbuckle said. "(Senior) Gisenia Utreras kept working and moving in the midfield. We were pleased with the pressure our entire front line was able to provide. (Junior) Bri Singh had a fantastic day, winning balls, holding possession and helping us create opportunities."
 
Both teams had near misses on scoring opportunities in the first half. Junior Marisa Rodrigues got free on a breakaway, but her shot ricocheted off the right post to keep SLU off the board. ACU nearly found the net later in the half, as freshman Dylan Owens had an open look from close range, but her shot banged off the cross bar to keep the match scoreless.
 
Southeastern generated one of its nine corner kick opportunities a little past the midway point of the second half to set up the winning score. Zadro played a perfectly placed ball on frame and Lorentz was right there to head it past ACU junior goalkeeper Sydney Newton and give SLU a 1-0 lead.
 
"The service was right, plus Lauren has such an ability to time her jump and she was able to bury that header," Hornbuckle said. "In close matches like this, the difference is often set pieces and Lauren was able to make it count."
 
The Lady Lions were able to make the Luling, Louisiana native's first goal of the season stand up, as SLU kept the ball on the ACU half of the pitch and held the Wildcats without a shot for the final 15 minutes.
 
Southeastern will return to action on Friday, traveling to Houston Baptist for a 7 p.m. league match.