THIBODAUX, La. --- The ULM women's soccer team combined a swarming offense and another strong defensive performance to break a modest two-match losing streak and pick up the 2-0 victory against Nicholls State in Thibodaux, La. on Friday afternoon.
ULM (3-3) attempted 27 total shots in the match with 16 coming against goal while sophomore goalkeeper Mallory George and the Warhawk defense limited the Colonels to only four shots for their third shutout of the season.
"I felt that we were the more aggressive team in every aspect of the game today," ULM soccer head coach Stacy Lamb said. "We were stronger and quicker then Nicholls was and won all the 50-50 balls. Everything we talked about wanting to improve on from last weekend while we were in Oklahoma we accomplished."
The Warhawks got on the board early when junior captain Rachel Hobson pushed in what would turn out to be the game winning goal in the match's 37th minute. Freshman Samantha Phillips-Gleason was tripped up from behind after winning the ball in the Nicholls box to set up the penalty kick for Hobson.
ULM applied more pressure, but couldn't push in another score in the first half as Nicholls State (1-4-1) goalkeeper Molly Mersereau collected 10 saves before the intermission.
Less than 11 minutes into the second period freshman Tiffany Bombard found the back of the net for the first time in her collegiate career to stretch the lead to 2-0 and put the game out of reach. Bombard was assisted on the play by sophomore Sara Islas.
George finished the game with only two saves to earn her Sun Belt Conference leading third shutout of the season.
"I thought this was a well played game by us today," Lamb said. "Everybody got in and contributed for us. We had a lot of chances today to score that we will have to start making in the future. It was good to see that we were able to learn from what we saw last time out and make the necessary adjustments."
The Warhawks return home to kick off a three match home stand at the ULM Soccer Complex on Sunday when they host I-20 rival Louisiana Tech for the first time in the history of both programs. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
ULM NOTES:
*Sophomore goalkeeper Mallory George's third shutout of the season made a big dent in the ULM record book. In addition to matching George's total from all of last year, the shutout moves the Centennial, Colo. native into sole possession of second place on the career shutouts list. George trails Rachel Marcom by 11 for the top spot.
*Freshman Tiffany Bombard's first career goal makes her the second Warhawk so far this season to find the back of the net for the first time as a collegiate athlete. Freshman Elena Vazquez also scored for the first time last week in ULM's 2-0 win against Centenary.
*Junior Rachel Hobson, playing in her 46th-consecutive match, picked up her first goal of the season. The score was Hobson's eighth career goal, moving her into sole possession of 11th place on the career goals scored list at ULM.
*With the win, ULM stretched its undefeated streak against Nicholls State to nine matches. During that period, the Warhawks have posted an 8-0-1 mark against their former Southland Conference rivals.
