THE RUNDOWN
Score: #19 South Florida 2 – ULM 0
Teams: ULM (0-1, 0-0 Sun Belt)
USF (1-0, 0-0 AAC)
Location: Harper Davis Field, Jackson, Miss.
JACKSON, Miss. – The ULM soccer team fought hard but came up on the short end of the decision Friday afternoon falling 2-0 to #19 South Florida in the 2016 season opener for both teams. In the 62nd minute lightning forced the teams to clear the field and led to a 68 minute delay before the two teams were able to get back out on the field.
THE TURNING POINT
In the 28th minute, Jordyn Listro pushed the ball behind the Warhawks backline and Leticia Skeete was able to knock it home to give South Florida the advantage which they didn't relinquish.
NOTABLES
-USF tallied 13 shots but 11 of them came in the opening half as ULM's defense clamped down and held South Florida to only two in the second 45 minutes.
-Brooke-Lynn Scroggins, 2015 Sun Belt Conference leader in saves and saves per game, started the year effectively with seven saves this afternoon.
-USF outshot ULM 13-2, with Maia Mumford tallying both of the Warhawk shots with one of them being on frame.
-ULM lost the corner kick battle 6-4 however three of the four Warhawk corners came in the second half.
-Friday's game was the first game for Warhawks head coach Keyton Wheelock. She became the fourth head coach in Warhawks soccer history.
-Friday's matchup with #19 South Florida was the first ranked opponent to face the Warhawks since Aug. 27, 2013 when #25 LSU hosted ULM. This was the first time in ULM soccer history that they have hosted a ranked opponent.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Keyton Wheelock
Thoughts on the game: My team played with a lot of heart this afternoon. They did everything I asked them to do and their intensity was up. We were unlucky on a couple of bounces but credit to USF; they kept possession of the ball and when their chances came they capitalized on them and they are a quality team. My team came out here today and they showed their character and sometimes your character can be tested. You go into a lightning delay where your down and off the field for a long period of time, it is hard to come back on and get going but these girls continued to battle and didn't drop their heads and I am very proud of what my teams' character was.
Positive thought to take into Sunday vs Mississippi Valley State: We didn't go deep into our bench today but we will on Sunday. I think from the effort that our team showed today and the belief they showed in themselves hanging in there with the #19 team in the country for almost a full half. I take that we can battle with any team we have to go in and not worry what they are ranked it is a new year and every game is new like I said in preseason. We take it one game at a time we are going to go in now and prepare for Sunday afternoon.
UP NEXT
-Following today's loss, ULM hits the pitch again on Sunday afternoon with a matinee showing against Mississippi Valley State. The matchup will kick at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday in Itta Bena, Miss. This will be the first of three straight road games for the Warhawks before they return back to ULM Soccer Complex on September 2to face Nicholls State at 4:00 p.m.
