CONWAY, AR - It was another tough outing for Central Arkansas women's soccer team as they dropped their Southland Conference matchup against Lamar 3-2. Today's match marks the third straight Southland Conference match for the Bears that has gone beyond 90 minutes. The Bears have just been unlucky so far losing all three, two of those losses courtesy of controversial penalty kick decisions. 
 
Central Arkansas jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Cardinals, but Lamar fought back and was able to equalize almost immediately. In extra time, a controversial penalty kick decision was given in the 94th minute and Lamar took advantage, converting the penalty to give them the golden goal winner over UCA. Central Arkansas finished with 18 total shots, hitting eight of them on target. Reagan McCombs was also big for the Bears in goal with seven saves on the afternoon. 
 
First Half
 

• The first scoring chance of the afternoon came in the sixth minute when UCA's Hadley Dickinson forced a save from the Lamar keeper, who parried it into the path of Lauren Hargus. Hargus' follow-up was also denied by the Lamar keeper, keeping the score level at zero. 
• Emma Hawkins would nearly open the scoring for the Bears in the 26th minute on a strike that was heading into the top left corner before being saved by the Lamar keeper. 

 
Second Half and Extra Time
 

• Anika Sultan would break the deadlock just two minutes into the second half as she took a pass across the box from Connie Awuku-Darkoh and smashed it into the top left corner to give the Bears a 1-0 advantage. 
• The Bears would double their advantage in the 64th minute when Lauren Hargus' initial effort from just inside the penalty area was parried right into the path of Awuku-Darkoh, who tapped it into an open net for her fourth goal of the season. 
• The Cardinals showed fight however despite being down 2-0, and was able to draw level on two quick goals in the 65th and 67th minute. 
• The 80th minute nearly saw the Bears regain the lead when Abby Gibson found herself in a one on one opportunity, but just couldn't keep her hard hit strike out of the reach of the Lamar keeper. 
• In the 94th minute, Lamar earned a controversial penalty and converted from 12 yards out.

 
Coach Bishop Quotes

"I just feel bad for our team right now because they're doing everything that they need to do to earn results. Letting them back into the game is our fault so we have to do a better job in closing games out, but it's just a real shame for referees to feel like they have to have such an impact on games. I thought we were the better team twice this weekend, it was just unfortunate the way things went. We just have to keep playing one game at a time. Once we get one, I promise we're going to run off a bunch, so we just have to keep that positive attitude."