MONROE, La. – A hard-fought game ended in favor of Texas State, 1-0 over the ULM soccer program on Senior Day at the ULM Soccer Complex on Sunday.
After the Warhawks (6-12-1, 0-8 SBC) hit the post twice early on, the Bobcats (10-5, 4-3 SBC) came back with the game's only score in the 23rd minute. Lauren Prater found Lynsey Curry on a through-ball and Curry kicked it into the lower left corner of the net.
“We played well enough to win today. It's hard to explain that we're much better than we have been even without a conference win. We are playing good soccer and the girls are working very hard. We just have had no luck putting the ball in the back of the net. We keep believing that the bounce will go our way, but it just has not happened all season,” said ULM head coach Roberto Mazza.
Freshman Cke'Lana Caesar, who was the first to rattle the post, fired a game-high four shots in 81 minutes. Senior Karlea Fehr, who also played 81 minutes and entered the game tied for the league-lead in shots, was the next to hit the post and registered three shots in the game with two on goal.
Also recording shots in the contest were Antonia Land and sophomore Peyton Holloway. Both teams earned four corner kicks in the game.
“We never felt the game was out of reach or that we wouldn't come back. In the second half, we had some really good chances in front of the goal. We lead the conference in both shots and corner kicks which shows we are not getting outplayed. We generate chances every game, but the final produce has been our Achilles heel,” Mazza said.
In net, freshman Brooke-Lynn Scroggins, who leads the conference in saves, made nine more. Caitlynn Rinehart stopped three shots for the Bobcats to pick up the win.
Junior Whitney Tuckfield and freshman Kelsey Dazalla continued their streaks of starting every game this season and also played 90 minutes. Junior Mary Ashton Lembo also played 90 minutes at midfield.
“The girls never put their heads down and continue to play hard. It's easy to give up when you are in this situation because you feel you deserve better. Our team culture and spirit has been amazing. It just hasn't been our year and we have to accept that. We might have taken a step back with not scoring goals, but we have taken a leap forward in the way we compete in every game and the level we are playing,” Mazza said.
ULM moved to 6-6-1 at home this season and 14-13-2 at the ULM Soccer Complex since 2013. It was Texas State's first win over ULM in the last three meetings.
The Warhawks will conclude the 2015 season next weekend when they host UL-Lafayette on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at the ULM Soccer Complex.
SENIOR DAY NOTES
- The Warhawks honored four seniors who have all been with the program for the last four seasons. All four started the game.
- No. 10 Antonia Land was accompanied by her mother, Lisa Land. Toni was named Team Captain for the third consecutive year this season. After her 2014 campaign, she earned recognition on the College Sports Madness All-SBC First-Team and All-Louisiana Honorable Mention. Additionally, Land became the first-ever NSCAA All-South Region honoree in program history last year. Land has racked up six career goals, eight assists, 20 points, 107 shots and 33 shots on goal. She's also scored three career game-winning goals. Land has played in 45 career games with 36 starts. She's majoring in kinesiology: sports and fitness industry with a minor in business.
- One of the most decorated student-athletes in ULM soccer history, No. 16 Karlea Fehr was joined by her parents, Ken and Lanae Fehr. Karlea entered the day as ULM's all-time leader in shots, shots on goal, assists and is tied for the lead in points. From Lakewood, Colo., Fehr was named to the 2012 All-Louisiana First-Team, 2014 College Sports Madness All-SBC First-Team and 2014 All-Louisiana Honorable Mention. Over four years, she's accumulated 16 goals, 21 assists, 53 points, 265 shots and 135 shots on goal. She's also scored four game-winning goals. Fehr has played in 75 career games with 54 starts, logging 4,680 minutes. She is majoring in psychology with a minor in business.
- No. 18 Mariah Mitchell was joined by her parents, Gwenn Church and Mario Mitchell. Mariah is ULM's leading goal scorer this year with four and has tallied 10 career goals which ranks 11th in program history. She's also eighth all-time in career assists with eight. The Corona, Calif., native has played in 60 career games with 47 starts. As a junior, Mitchell was named Team Captain. Having played every position on the field, Mitchell has racked up 87 shots, 42 shots on goal and 28 points. Over 48 percent of her career shots have been on net. Mitchell is majoring in communications: journalism.
- Having been named Team Co-MVP at the end of last season, No. 23 Kelley O'Dwyer was joined by her father, Gary O'Dwyer. Kelley ranks second on the team in both goals and points this year. O'Dwyer is second all-time in ULM assists with 14, sixth in points with 36 and eighth in goals with 11. The Sugar Land, Texas product has fired 69 shots in her career with 41 on net. Nearly 60 percent of her shots over the last four years have been on goal. O'Dwyer has played in 65 career games with 46 starts and has been on the field for 3,956 minutes. She is majoring in construction management.
