HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston took care of first-place Lamar with a 2-0 victory at Pritchett Field to clinch a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament Saturday afternoon.
 
The Bearkats (5-4-1) will be one of eight teams competing for a berth to the NCAA Tournament in Beaumont April 15-17. Sam Houston has now won four matches in a row.
 
Junior Ashley Friedrichs wasted no time giving the Kats a 1-0 lead over the Cardinals (8-3, 7-3 in SLC) with her first goal of the season. Sam Houston was on the attach in the Lamar box when Friedrichs floated a shot over some defenders and the ball hit just on the inside of the bottom middle of the cross bar in the 5^th minute.
 
The Bearkats held off a relentless Lamar offense that came into the contest averaging almost two goals a match. Sophomore keeper Tatum Krueger finished with three saves and faced 10 shots.
 
Sophomore Brooke Jones provided Sam Houston with a much-needed insurance goal, her fourth of the season, in the 79^th minute off an assist by Landri Townsend to seal the victory.
 
The Bearkats will close out the regular season on the road at Stephen F. Austin Friday at 7 p.m.