MONROE, La. – Freshmen Nancy Kirk and Jenna Pillon each scored hat tricks as the ULM Soccer program cruised to a 9-0 victory in its home opener over Grambling State on Sunday at the ULM Soccer Complex in front of a record crowd of 356.
ULM (1-1) held a 34-3 advantage in shots and 9-0 edge in corner kicks in a game that was primary played on one half of the field. The game was called after 70 minutes since GSU (0-1) had a series of injuries and did not have enough student-athletes to continue.
It marked the first time in ULM history that two players scored hat tricks in the same game. The nine goals were the most ever scored at ULM Soccer Complex and tied for the most single-game goals in the Warhawk record books. The 30 points ULM tallied in the contest shattered the program's single game mark of 23 previously set in 2005 against Alcorn State.
Kirk recorded seven points on the night which tied the school record for points in a game with Chelsea Shriner's performance in 2001 against Stephen F. Austin. Kirk and Pillon became the fourth and fifth players to score hat tricks in program history, respectively.
The 12 assists by the team doubled the previous record of six set in 2012 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Kelley O'Dwyer and Cerene Arsenault each had a pair to lead the way.
Pillon, who was named the College Sports Madness Sun Belt Conference Preseason Freshman of the Year, knocked in the first two goals of the game to get it started. Her first was on a dash through the central defense with a finish in the lower right corner after 18:59 minutes. The second came just two minutes later after she received a centering pass in the middle from Mary Ashton Lembo.
Pillon scored her third just three minutes into the second half on a shot from the left side. Arsenault and Kirk set it up with beautiful passes.
“Our team came out really strong today. We all knew this was an important game and the coaches definitely stressed that,” Pillon said. “Most of our goals were off passes or crosses in and really good connecting. It was a team effort.”
Kirk scored two goals near the end of the first half to put ULM ahead, 5-0. Her first was started on a drive by Lauren Palmer who fed it off to O'Dwyer. The sophomore put in a cross that Kirk was able to maintain and finish in the left side. Kirk's second goal was off a penalty kick, and she left the keeper with no chance after a low shot into the right corner.
The Warhawks increased the lead to 6-0 on Kirk's shot that was set up by O'Dwyer and Rhae'ven Ellis. O'Dwyer later scored one herself to make it 9-0 on a shot from the left side that went off a GSU defender's leg.
Rodriguez and Kyla Kalinski each scored in the contest to cap off the ULM offense. Rodriguez found herself all alone with the keeper and did not disappoint in the first half after Kylie Kykowski and Kalinski set up a play through the center. Kalinski's goal was drilled from just outside the penalty area in the middle.
In net, Holly Mallinson earned the start and made a pair of saves in 45:00 minutes. Katherine Werther came on in the second half and held the Lady Tigers scoreless.
The Warhawks started eight freshmen in the contest and played 23 different student-athletes. Freshman Ashley Day, from Monroe, La., made her debut and logged seven minutes.
SBC Preseason All-Conference selection Karlea Fehr came close to scoring on several occasions. She fired nine shots and four on target.
ULM's previous attendance record was 278 on Aug. 22, 2009 against Belhaven College. The Warhawks improved to 6-1-0 all-time against Grambling.
“The crowd really energized us and kept us focused,” Kirk said. “I really enjoyed that.”
The Warhawks look to duplicate their performance on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. when they go up against 25th-ranked LSU on the road. ULM returns home on Friday, Aug. 30 for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff against Nicholls State.
