Lamar scored goals in each half as the Cardinals defeated Sam Houston State 2-0 in a Southland Conference soccer match to wrap up second place in the 2012 league race.

With the runner-up position, Lamar joins regular season champion Stephen F. Austin as the teams earning byes in next Thursday's first round of the Southland post-season tournament to be played at Cowgirl Stadium at McNeese State in Lake Charles, La.

The Bearkats will be either the third or fourth seed depending on the outcome of other games during the final week of regular season play.

The Cardinals led most of the way, scoring their first goal just 2:22 into the contest on a shot by Kristin Bos.; Sam Houston ends the regular season with a 4-3-1 Southland mark. Lamar earned the number two seed with a 6-2 conference record.

Despite the loss, the Bearkat defense has set record marks during the 2012 season. In 18 matches, Sam Houston has surrendered only 18 goals. The school record for goals against coming into the season was 30 in 2004.

Six teams qualify for the tournament in Lake Charles. The No. 3 and No. 6 seeds face off and the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds meet in the first round on Thursday Nov. 1. The winner of the 3-6 match faces the No. 2 seed and the 4-5 victor meets Southland regular season champion Stephen F. Austin in Friday's semifinals. The championship match between the semifinal winners will be Sunday Nov. 4 at 1 p.m.