CONWAY, Ark. – Amanda Borstelmann and Mariah Mitchell scored for the ULM soccer program but Central Arkansas knocked in five goals in the second half to take a 6-2 result on Friday at the Bill Stephens Soccer Complex.
ULM (4-5-1) got on the board first on Borstelmann's goal in the 18th minute. The play came on a corner kick as Kylie Kukowski sent in a beautiful ball to the back post and Borstelmann was able to get a foot on it and put it past the keeper.
The Sugar Bears (3-2-2) evened up right before the end of the first half as a deep shot from about 30 yards out by Shelby Wilson found the upper left corner of the net. The teams went into halftime tied 1-1.
The Warhawks regained the lead early in the second half on a goal by Mariah Mitchell. It marked the second corner kick goal of the game as Kukowski centered a ball in for her second assist of the night and Mitchell finished.
“It's promising that we can get on the end of our set pieces. We just have to do a better job in different areas of the field, but we will be fine for our next game,” said head coach Roberto Mazza.
UCA leveled the game again, 2-2, in the 54th minute on a quick strike by Kate Koch. The Sugar Bears took the lead, 3-2, on a breakaway goal by Adriana Lucar in the 58th minute.
Brooke Ballard added on for UCA to make it a 4-2 game in the 69th minute on a rebound off the keeper. The fifth score came off the foot of Wilson in the 72nd minute on a shot from the middle after a cross from the right. The final goal trickled in off a shot by Chele Naudin in the 89th minute.
“We had an unbelievable first half. In the second half, we went up 2-1 but made a couple mistakes and the wheels fell off,” said Mazza. “It's a good learning experience and I'm glad it's happening now before conference play. The final score wasn't indicative of the game so we will be alright.”
The Warhawks started nine freshmen for the seventh consecutive game. They will look to bounce back on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Mississippi Valley State. The game will be ULM's final tune-up before Sun Belt Conference play.
