GRAMBLING, La. – At a flooded GSU Soccer Field, junior Kelley O'Dwyer scored a pair of goals to pace the ULM soccer program in a 4-0 shutout over Grambling State in the pouring rain on Sunday.
With the victory, ULM tied its best start in program history at 3-0. The Warhawks remain as the only team in the Sun Belt Conference that has not allowed a goal this season.
“We fought through tough field conditions today,” said ULM head coach Roberto Mazza. “It was good that everyone on the team was able to experience this type of game and we were able to walk away with a win.”
Both of O'Dwyer's goals against GSU (0-3) come on headers in the box. The first was in the ninth minute. After sophomore Nancy Kirk found Danielle LaFrance open on the left wing, LaFrance put in a centering-ball that O'Dwyer leaped to and placed in the back of the net.
The second came in the 21st minute in similar fashion. On a set pieces play from the left, sophomore Mary Ashton Lembo found O'Dwyer in the middle of the box as she jumped above the defenders and scored her third goal of the season.
The Warhawks added another in the 33rd minute on a goal by sophomore Jenna Pillon. Sophomore Amanda Borstelmann got it started with a pass to junior Karlea Fehr who shot from the right side. Fehr's ball got knocked down by the gusting rain and died in the mud in front of the goal, but Pillon was there to clean it up and put it in the back of the net.
ULM posted its final tally in the 56th minute on a goal by LaFrance off a corner kick taken by freshman Peyton Holloway. After Borstelmann was able to trap it, she found an open LaFrance who scored from inside the six-yard box.
Fehr and freshman Danielle Sabathe led the team with seven shots apiece. ULM outshot the Lady Tigers 41-10, including a 17-6 mark in shots on goal. The Warhawks also held a 13-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Sophomore Katherine Werther (2-0) played 90 minutes in net and made six saves. Sophomore Lauren Palmer played a team-high 69 minutes as a defender to help preserve the shutout.
For Grambling State, Tiana Bateau fired five shots and Savannah John took four. Jennifer LeSage (0-2) recorded the loss.
The Warhawks will look to break the program record for most wins to open a season on Wednesday when they travel to Arkansas-Pine Bluff for a 5:00 p.m. contest.
