NATCHITOCHES, La. – The ULM Soccer program started its season strong with a convincing 3-0 victory over Northwestern State on a scorching hot Sunday at the Lady Demons Soccer Complex.
The Warhawks (1-0) tallied goals from redshirt-sophomore Antonia Land, junior Karlea Fehr and freshman Karen Tamayo. ULM posted 12 points total in the match as five different student-athletes registered assists.
“With the conditions over 100 degrees, we needed every player today and our level did not drop. We finished the game the way we started, so getting a 90 minute performance in our first game is fantastic,” said ULM head coach Roberto Mazza. “I really like how our attack is coming together. We looked confident and hungry on every ball.”
ULM got on the board in the 22nd minute on a goal scored by Land from just outside the middle of the penalty box. The play started with a throw-in by sophomore Mary Ashton Lembo to sophomore Jenna Pillon who found Land with space in the center. Land fired and found the upper right corner of the goal.
The Warhawks went into the half leading 1-0. They held a 3-2 shot advantage at the intermission.
In the 83rd minute, Fehr put the game away after a deep run through the center. She rolled one passed the keeper in the lower right corner after passes from Pillon and sophomore Nancy Kirk.
Tamayo put on the finishing touch in the 90th minute with a goal after a run down the right. Sophomore Haley Rodriguez fed freshman Cassidy Kunicyn who made a beautiful centering pass into Tamayo who did not disappoint from just outside the six-yard box.
In net, Samantha Moreno got the nod and made three saves in 90 minutes. Sophomore center-back Cameron Stoker also played 90 minutes to preserve the shutout.
“Defensively, we were strong in all areas. We did not make any costly mental mistakes and our back line was sound,” Mazza said. "We were very disciplined and kept our focus for 90 minutes."
For the game, ULM outshot NSU (1-1) 8-6. Land fired a game-high three shots. The Warhawks used 24 different student-athletes in the contest.
Alex Latham took the loss in net for the Lady Demons. Six different NSU student-athletes posted shots. ULM defeated the Lady Demons for the second year in a row after a 3-1 result last year.
The Warhawks are 1-0 for the first time since 2011 when they defeated Central Arkansas 2-1. The 3-0 victory is ULM's largest win on opening day since 2008 when it defeated Lamar 5-0.
Up next, the Warhawks will look to duplicate their performance when they travel to Southern University for a 6:00 p.m. kick off on Friday. ULM will close out next weekend at Grambling State at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Follow the ULM soccer program on twitter, @ULM_Soccer, for live in-game updates. Support the Warhawks through participating in the Athletic Foundation, you can join the ULMAF by calling 318-342-5415.
