MONROE, La. – Freshman Jenna Pillon knocked in a pair of goals to highlight the ULM offense as the soccer program defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 4-0 on Friday at the ULM Soccer Complex.
Pillon, who was named College Sports Madness Sun Belt Conference Preseason Freshman of the Year, got ULM (2-4) started in the first half with a header in the 18th minute. The play came off a corner kick as freshman Mary Ashton Lembo put the ball in the center of the box and Pillon soared with a header into the left side.
The Long Beach, Calif., native registered her second multi-goal game of the year in the second half in the 68th minute. Freshman Cameron Stoker set up the play after stopping a charge down the field by UAPB (0-5). After stealing the ball, Stoker dribbled down the middle of the field and fed off a through ball to Pillon who rolled it past the keeper.
Pillon, who missed the last two games with an injury, tallied a hat trick in ULM's 9-0 win over Grambling State on Aug. 27.
ULM kept the 1-0 at halftime and freshman Allie Dickson increased it with her first collegiate goal in the second half. Freshman Somer Anderson sent a ball into the middle, and after Pillon knocked it down with a header, Dickson put on the finishing touch from the front of the goal in the 63rd minute.
“It was just one of those plays where everyone was working hard. Jenna [Pillon] had beat the keeper, and after the ball came back out I was just in the right place at the right time,” said Dickson.
Freshman Lauren Palmer knocked in the final goal of the game in the 81st minute. Junior Cerene Arsenault got it started with a pass to SBC Preseason All-Conference selection Karlea Fehr who made a deep run down the field. Fehr laid it off to Palmer who had an open look and applied the finish.
“It was extremely important to get this win. We had a lot of fans today and a lot of parents were here. We wanted to show everyone what we could do and we picked it up a lot second half,” said Palmer.
The Warhawks owned a 34-3 advantage in shots, including a 15-1 ratio in shots on goal. ULM also carried a 16-0 edge in corner kicks.
Nancy Kirk led the team with four shots on goal, followed by Pillon and Fehr who each had three. Rhae'ven Ellis and Haley Rodriguez also put shots on target.
For the Golden Lions, Celeste Carrera led the team with a pair of shots, including one on goal. Holly Mallinson made the save for ULM in the first half. Katherine Werther played in net in the second half.
ULM started nine freshmen for the third consecutive game. 19 freshmen played in the contest.
The Warhawks will look to keep rolling against Northwestern State at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Follow on twitter, @ULM_Soccer, for live in-game updates.
