JONESBORO, Ark. – The ULM soccer team opened the 2020 season Sunday with a 6-1 loss to Arkansas State in a Sun Belt Conference match at A-State Soccer Park.
The Red Wolves tallied 21 shots, with 11 on goal, as they broke away from the Warhawks late in the second half. ULM had seven shots, with three on goal.
"I thought that barring the first 15 minutes and the last 15, we did quite well today," ULM head coach Sean Fraser said. "We made too many errors that ultimately ended up costing us, but despite the result, I am encouraged by a number of things I saw from our group."
Arkansas State struck first. In the 17th minute, Hailey Furto found the back of the net off an assist by Sarah Sodoma for a 1-0 lead.
Just seven minutes later, A-State doubled its lead on Olivia Smith's goal for the 2-0 advantage.
ULM got back in the match late in the first half. Madi Garza's shot went off the top woodwork, but Courtney Marten was there to follow it up and scored her first goal as a Warhawk to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. The score held to halftime.
In the second half, A-State came out firing, launching four shots before ULM was able to attempt one. The Red Wolves resumed a two-goal lead when Sodoma converted a penalty kick in the 65th minute for a 3-1 lead.
A-State then scored a flurry of goals late in the match to put it away. Furio notched her second goal in the 79th minute. Three minutes later, Haley Husted scored, only to be followed a minute later by Darby Stotts for the 6-1 lead.
Hailey Hillock had five saves for ULM.
The Warhawks return to the pitch for a non-conference match at 7 p.m. Thursday at Central Arkansas.
