ULM Warhawks

MONROE, La. - The 2021 ULM soccer team looks to build off a strong spring non-conference season as the Warhawks move back to a traditional fall-only schedule for head coach Sean Fraser's second season.
 
The 2020-21 season was split into two halves due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with ULM playing eight Sun Belt Conference contests, one non-conference match and one match in the SBC Championship in the fall of 2020. The Warhawks then played eight non-conference matches in the spring of 2021 which counted toward the club's overall record and record books. After starting 0-10 in the fall, the Warhawks displayed growth in the spring, finishing 5-13 overall.
 
Fraser says the spring season of competition was "massive" for his team's growth.
 
"When I sat down with (ULM Athletics Director) Scott (McDonald) mid-year, we both agreed that the process would benefit with some more outside competition," Fraser said. "We needed training time but we also needed something to look forward to during the week. We would've liked to have fulfilled the games that we lost due to weather but none of us can complain too much. I felt like we took a few steps forward. I think everyone is aware we all feel like we should've had six to seven more wins on the board than we did."
 
With a blanket waiver of eligibility applied to all fall sports student-athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 10 starters return for ULM in 2021. Efi Brame, Daisy Drake, Madi Garza, Lena Göppel, Hailey Hillock, Courtney Marten, Juliëtte Reitsma, Janet Stopka, Kathryn Yarbrough and Theoni Zerva all return this fall.
 
"These guys have been helping us build this high-performance culture," Fraser said. "They know their way around the place now and understand what we have to do. We didn't have that luxury last year."
 
Stopka highlights the group of returning starters. The second-year freshman from Waldbrol, Germany, made waves in her first campaign, especially during the spring. She tied the program's single-season goal scoring record with 10 goals, including eight in the spring. She also finished fourth in program history with 21 points on the season.
 
Even with her immense success late in the year, Fraser says he's still looking for ways for his forward to continue to improve.
 
"We've got to get her down the middle in the number nine position," Fraser said. "She played too many games wide or as a 10 last year. She's got to stay healthy. She's got to continue developing good habits in the box. She's done well in the short time we've had her but she wants to do better. I love that about her. As a striker, myself and (assistant coach) Will (Roberts) nudge her here and there. She can still learn, which is exciting."
 
Fraser's second squad includes 13 newcomers. Three of those players join the 2021 club after they were on the 2020-21 roster but unable to compete for the Warhawks. Paula Guba, Eva Lauret and Ermelinda Pantaleao are all expected to make their ULM debuts this fall.
 
"We have Eva, Paula and Ermelinda eligible now," Fraser said. "All three are huge for us. All three are physical players with good experience winning at the college level. They add to us from a leadership perspective. They value training. They embrace the cardiovascular side of the game and they're all vocal. We didn't have enough of that last year."
 
Two more newcomers bring in previous NCAA Division I playing experience in Aysha Bentick and Lucia Lobato (Akron). Bentick played in 47 matches with 24 starts over four seasons at Rhode Island while Lobato played in 23 matches with 21 starts over two seasons at Akron. Lobato scored a pair of goals in the spring for the Zips.
 
"I'm thrilled about the two of them," Fraser said. "They are both left side players who will help balance the team out. Lucia will be a huge upgrade at left back while AB will add speed running in behind but will also be able to link with runners around her. They both have great experience that we will need to tap into."
 
The Warhawks also add junior college transfer Louise Atkinson from Coffeyville Community College, where she had eight goals and 10 assists last season and 20 goals and 11 assists as a freshman in 2019.
 
Fraser's incoming recruiting class is capped with seven freshmen. Fraser says some in that group can make an immediate impact.
 
"We're excited about that group," Fraser said. "They're all top level athletes. Mara (Grutkamp) has represented her youth national team and comes to us with a great pedigree. Siobhan (Edwards), Brianna (Edwards), Taylor (Henry) and Inge (Konst) were signed in November and are going to be great players for a long time at ULM."
 
ULM continues to have an international flair in 2021 with 17 international student-athletes on the roster representing 10 countries. Several players have represented their country on the youth or full national teams, including Göppel (Liechtenstein), Zerva (Greece) and Brianna Edwards (Australia) during the past year.
 
"I think we've got 10 to 12 girls who have represented their country at either the youth or full national team level," Fraser said. "That high performance culture requires as many high performing individuals as possible. I'm proud of them. It just shows what ULM can offer."
 
Fraser says his 2021 squad will try to take things day-by-day.
 
"24-hour goals," Fraser said. "We're going one day at a time and we're going to win as many small victories as we can."
 
Fraser is also excited about his coaching and support staff that has come together for the season.
 
"I'm thrilled that we've got a staff that includes Uriah (Holt), Matt (Caley), Peyton (Frick) and Will (Roberts)," Fraser said. "They all bring so much to the team that we're fortunate to have. We hope to be doing a lot more to affect our players' development this year. Just in the short time we've been working together, we've managed to get a solid idea of where we want to go."
 
The Warhawk schedule opens on Thursday, August 19 at Texas Southern before continuing Sunday, August 22 at Mississippi Valley State. ULM plays its home opener on Friday, August 27 against Central Arkansas at Brown Stadium before traveling to Grambling State to close the month on Sunday, August 29.
 
ULM opens September with a home match against Nicholls on Sept. 2 before traveling to Northwestern State on Sept. 5. The Warhawks host Alcorn State on Sept. 10 and wrap up the non-conference slate on Sept. 12 at Southern.
 
Sun Belt Conference play begins the following week on Sept. 19 at home against Troy. ULM goes on the road for a weekend trip to Georgia State (Sept. 23) and Coastal Carolina (Sept. 26). The Warhawks host Little Rock (Oct. 1) and Georgia Southern (Oct. 3) before heading to Arkansas State (Oct. 7). ULM opens its final homestand of the season with South Alabama (Oct. 10) and closes it with App State (Oct. 15). The regular season ends on the road with matches at Texas State (Oct. 22) and the Ragin' Cajuns (Oct. 24). The Sun Belt Conference Championship begins on Nov. 1 in Foley, Alabama.