NACOGDOCHES, Texas – A goal in the fourth minute stood as the lone tally for Stephen F. Austin as it held on to a 1-0 result over the ULM soccer program on Friday evening under the lights at the SFA Soccer Field.
The Ladyjacks, who have won four consecutive Southland Conference regular season titles and were picked to win the league again this year in the SLC Preseason Polls, scored on a shot off a rebound. Rachel Owens was able to clean-up a shot off the keeper inside the six-yard box. Chantal Curry was credited with the assist.
“SFA is the best team we've played all season. We conceded a soft goal in the first five minutes and after that we settled into the game,” said ULM head coach Roberto Mazza. “There weren't many shots on goal for either team tonight so there were limited opportunities.”
For the game, SFA held a slight 5-4 edge in shots on goal, but ULM (3-4-1) registered a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks. The Warhawks now hold a 57-35 disparity against all opponents this season in corner kicks.
“I liked the fact that we were very organized from front to back. We did a great job of getting stuck in and we didn't give them any big opportunities to stretch the lead,” Mazza said. “I would consider SFA to be a top-level team in our league and this gives us confidence moving forward.”
Senior Karlea Fehr fired a team-high five shots with a couple on net. Senior Kelley O'Dwyer, sophomore Danielle Sabathe and juniors Mary Ashton Lembo, and Nancy Kirk also recorded shots in the game.
Lembo, junior Jenna Pillon, freshman Kelsey Dazalla and junior Whitney Tuckfield continued their streaks of starting game this season. Tuckfield, O'Dwyer, Lembo and Dazalla all played the full 90 minutes in the contest.
In net, Lillie Ehlert (1-4) picked up the win after making four saves. Freshman Julia Idalis Gonzalez (2-2-1) also made four stops for the Warhawks.
ULM will wrap up the weekend at home on Sunday when it plays Grambling State at 1:00 p.m. at the ULM Soccer Complex. Follow the ULM soccer program on twitter, @ULM_Soccer, for live in-game updates of every game this season.
