MONROE,La. – The ULM women's soccer team is back on the road this weekend, traveling to Sun Belt opponents Arkansas State on Friday (Sept. 21) and Louisiana on Sunday (Sept. 23).
The Warhawks (0-8) are looking to snap its losing streak on Friday, while the Red Wolves (3-2-2) will be hosting ULM after Hurricane Florence led to a postponed Sun Belt opener at Coastal Carolina last Sunday (Sept. 16).
Arkansas State last hosted Memphis (Sept. 13), falling to the Tigers 3-0. The Red Wolves were outshot 19-4 in the loss, led by Sarah Sodoma who fired off two shots and one on goal. Starting goalkeeper Megan McClure played 83 minutes of the match and registered seven saves.
The Red Wolves have scored six of their eight season goals in the first half, with five different athletes behind them. Sodoma has two goals on the season, as do teammates Maggie Ertl and Hailey Furio.
ASU has allowed just as many goals as it has scored, but on less than half the number of shots. In fact, Arkansas State boasts a .145 shot percentage while its opponents lean on a shot efficiency of only .064.
The Warhawks defeated the Red Wolves last year (Oct. 15) after a penalty kick at the 57 mark gave ULM the 1-0 lead that would stand until the buzzer.
ULM yelled victory against Louisiana as well last year (Oct. 5). Leading 1-0 at the half thanks to a goal from former Warhawk
Danielle LaFrance, ULM returned to the pitch to score a second goal off the foot of sophomore
Taylor Altieri with less than 20 minutes left in regulation. The Ragin' Cajuns avoided the shutout with a score at the 88 minute mark, but the Warhawks held onto the lead and the eventual win.
This season, Louisiana stands at 1-6-1, which its only win coming at the hands of Northwestern State, a match the Ragin' Cajuns won 1-0 in Lafayette.
Louisiana has only scored one more goal than ULM this year, one of which came as a team goal that was scored off a Southeastern Lady Lion in their match against SLU (Aug. 31). Freshman Savanna Young has is a new midfielder for ULL and leads the Ragin' Cajuns with 14 total shots.
Only two nine-game starters have scored for Louisiana, Sarah Kozlowski and Gwen Mummert, while common substitutes Una Einarsdottir and Lexi Turner have also contributed goals.
The Ragin' Cajuns goalkeeping unit is split like ULM's, with two keepers who share their time in the net. Junior Mackenzie Lee has started in five of nine games this year for Louisiana, making 26 saves and allowing 13 goals.
ULM looks to senior keeper
Brooke-Lynn Scroggins and freshman
Bre Truscott to defend the net, with the two Warhawks accumulating 65 saves. Truscott has earned 40 of those 65, with a .727 save percentage headed into games nine and ten.
ULM has made 59 shots during play, but scored only four times, all off the foot of freshmen. Lake Jackson, Texas native
Mackenzie Bell leads the Warhawks with her two goals scored against Northwestern State earlier this season. Bell also leads ULM in total shots, with 12- the only Warhawk to reach double-digits after eight matches.
Senior
Sheena Martin has only tallied three shots but all three were on goal, making her the most potent Warhawk on the pitch.
On the defense, senior
Alexandria Skidmore is leading her squad, as head coach
Keyton Wheelock's go-to girl for leadership on the pitch. "Skid is a leader on and off the field, but in game, I can trust her to make the right decisions, communicate with her teammates the game plan, and adapt to provide support wherever she is needed every situation."
Links to live stats and video are available at ULMWarhawks.com. Fans are encouraged to follow along with the action on Twitter at @ULM_soccer for live, in-game updates. Complete box score and match recap will be available at ULMWarhawks.com shortly following the match.
