LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The ULM soccer team claimed its first lead of the season Thursday night, but ultimately conceded two goals, including the golden goal in overtime, as Little Rock rallied for a 2-1 win in overtime at Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex.
"We played so well tonight and we are unfortunate to lose in overtime," ULM head soccer coach Sean Fraser said.
ULM opened with the first three shot attempts of the game. Sophomore Madi Garza had a shot miss high in the seventh minute before freshman Janet Stopka's shot was saved by Little Rock goal keeper Saskia Wagner in the 15th minute.
Stopka's shot led to a corner kick for the Warhawks. Sophomore Juliette Reitsma found junior Kathryn Yarbrough, who drove the ball past Wagner for ULM's 1-0 lead in the 16th minute.
Little Rock wasted little time in answering. A shot by Doro Greulich was stopped by ULM keeper Hailey Hillock, setting up a Trojan corner kick. Greulich was rewarded, scoring off the corner by Morgan Smocovich to tie the match at 1 in the 23rd minute. The score held to halftime.
"I thought we dominated the ball in the first half," Fraser said. "I saw my team creating openings and being assertive like we have been working on. The move that set up the goal was absolutely first class. If we continue to play like that, we are going to be a wonderful team."
The Trojans had the next shot on frame in the 56th minute by Mari Young, which Hillock saved in the bottom right corner.
ULM had its only shot on goal in the second half and overtime in the 77th minute, when junior Courtney Marten's shot was stopped by Wagner in the bottom left.
Little Rock had one final chance in regulation in the 85th minute, but Smocovich's shot was saved by Hillock in the bottom right, sending the match to overtime tied at 1.
It did not take the Trojans long to score the golden goal in overtime. In the 93rd minute, Abril Lucio gave Little Rock the win off an assist from Bergros Asgeirsdottir.
Little Rock outshot ULM 15-9. Garza led ULM with three shots. Little Rock had five shots on goal to ULM's three. Wagner tallied two saves for Little Rock while Hillock had three saves.
"My job is to continue to think big picture," Fraser said. "Our record isn't great for the first part of the fall, but no one could've complained if we had won three, four or five of these games. That's how close we are to breaking through."
The Warhawks open the Sun Belt Conference Championship at 4 p.m. Monday with a first-round match against Appalachian State at Foley Sports and Tourism Complex in Foley, Alabama.
