JACKSONVILLE – Junior Laleh Lonteen netted a goal with under a minute left to go in the Sunday's Conference USA battle with Western Kentucky to equalize the match at the Jax State Soccer Complex.

With the Gamecocks trailing the Lady Toppers over the finale 15-plus minutes, Lonteen was able to get a shot off from near the top of the box after a pass from sophomore Camryn Davis. Lonteen delivered her seventh goal of the season and helped Jax State gain a point to wrap up the conference weekend. Jax State (5-5-2, 0-1-2 CUSA) erased a 3-1 deficit in the final 20 minutes of Thursday's road contest at Louisiana Tech to earn the 3-3 draw. The draw was the sixth of the season for WKU which moved to 2-2-6 overall and 1-0-1 in the league.

It was a defensive battle throughout the match as the two sides combined for 13 total shots. WKU controlled the ball for most of the afternoon, but head coach Sean Fraser was pleased with another solid effort by the Gamecocks' defense.

"We deserved at least a tie in the game after they had the ball for most of the day, but we didn't allow them to use it very well. I am ok without having the ball as long as we control what the opponent does," said Fraser. "They really didn't have a shot until the goal and to me, that was their only shot that was meaningful."

WKU took the lead in the 76th minute after Katie Erwin recorded her fifth goal of the season after an assist from Rebecca Roth. The Lady Toppers finished with nine-of-the-13 shots, including seven corner kick opportunities that were denied by Jax State.

"I thought we really battled and you can see that our team is coming together and it is a positive resukt and we will take it," added Fraser.

Jax State's late minute goal was set up by bringing on a centerback for the last few minutes of the game to add to the Gamecocks' front line.

"I think there was some confusion when we put the centerback in and the ball dropped to Laleh and Laleh does what she always does," Fraser noted.

The Gamecocks will have a full week to prepare for the next outing as they return to action next Sunday in El Paso, Texas to face the Miners of UREP. Match time is set for 2 p.m. CT.

"It is a big opportunity for us to train and heal up as we have a few bumps and bruises," said Fraser. "We need to get a positive result next week."

Sunday's match with UTEP will be streamed on ESPN+.