MONROE, La. – ULM battled through a physical, defensive game to find the back of the net twice in the second half to defeat Grambling State, 2-0, Tuesday afternoon at Brown Stadium.
The two sides combined for 22 shots, with ULM (3-11) firing off 15. However, there were just four shots on goal. ULM put three shots on frame to just one for GSU (0-1).
"I'm pleased with how we controlled the game today," ULM head coach Sean Fraser said. "We have a young group that is improving and investing in the principles that we are trying to install. At times some of the quality we saw today was exactly what we want, although in front of goal we expect to be better."
Offensive opportunities were few and far between, especially in the first 45 minutes. Victoria Altieri's shot in the 26th minute was stopped by Grambling goalkeeper Britt Verhees. In the 32nd minute, ULM's Janet Stopka worked her way free in front of the net, but her shot hit the right post and stayed out. The Warhawks fired seven shots in the half to Grambling's one, but the game remained scoreless at the half.
In the second half, neither team could convert on early corner kicks. ULM's Thenia Zervas missed a shot high as did Grambling's Mackenzie Rastatter.
The Warhawks finally broke through in the 59th minute. Victoria Altieri sent a cross from the left side of the box to the front of the net, where McKenzie Rizqi headed the ball toward the frame. The ball ricocheted off the post and crossbar and appeared to cross the goal line. After a short deliberation between the referee and one of the assistant officials, the Warhawks were awarded the goal. Rizqi's second goal in as many games gave ULM the 1-0 advantage.
Offensive opportunities increased over the final 30 minutes of the match, but neither team scored again until the Warhawks added insurance in the 88th minute. ULM used a set piece off a Grambling foul at the top of the penalty box to score. Efi Brame put the play in motion with a short pass along the top of the box to Thenia Zervas, who turned and fired the ball into the bottom left corner of the net for the 2-0 lead. It was Zervas' first goal as a Warhawk.
Hailey Hillock earned her first solo shutout as a Warhawk, playing all 90 minutes in net and making one save. Altieri led ULM with four shots on the afternoon.
"Defensively, it's probably our best performance since we arrived, but that goes in tandem with being good in possession, and also creating chances, and scoring from dead balls, which we did today," Fraser said.
ULM is off until March 13 when LSU-Alexandria visits Brown Stadium to wrap up the home portion of the spring schedule.
