HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Inge Konst converted two penalty kick opportunities and Sara Navarro added an insurance goal in the final 10 minutes as ULM picked up the first win of the Will Roberts era with a 3-1 win over Sam Houston Sunday afternoon at Pritchett Field.
 
The match was moved up two hours to an 11 a.m. kickoff due to intense heat. Even with the accommodations for heat, the air temperature was 98 degrees at first touch and 106 degrees by the end of the match, with the heat index at 112 degrees.
 
Konst put ULM (1-0-1 overall) on the board quickly. In the fifth minute, a yellow card on Sam Houston's Andrea Nugent in the penalty area granted the Warhawks a penalty kick. Konst buried the kick into the bottom right of the net for a 1-0 lead.
 
Sam Houston (1-1 overall) answered in the 17th minute, as Pam Murray's second shot on goal in 14 seconds found the top right corner of the goal to level the match at 1.
 
The match remained tied at 1 into the second half.
 
ULM had a pair of chances in the 51st minute, but shots by Mara Grutkamp and Konst were both stopped by Bearkat goalkeeper Savannah Hall. The teams traded opportunities moments later, with ULM keeper Alexa Castro making stops in the 57th and 61st minutes, while Grutkamp had another shot on goal saved by Hall in the 59th minute.
 
Sam Houston had the next two chances, but a pair of shots by Tiana Johnson were stopped by Castro, with one in the 66th minute and another in the 72nd minute.
 
ULM broke the tie in the 76th minute. Konst's shot late in the 75th minute was denied by Hall, but a foul moments later against the Bearkats inside the box awarded the Warhawks a penalty kick. Konst converted again, going to the top left of the goal, giving ULM the 2-1 lead.
 
It was the fifth converted penalty kick of Konst's career, tying her with Cindy Barker (2000-03) for the most in ULM program history. Konst's 13th career goal moved her into a tie for eighth on the career goals list with Theoni Zerva (2020/21-22), Megan Moore (2003-06) and Alicia Hamilton (2003-04). Konst also is 10th on the career points list with 34 points (13 goals, eight assists).
 
The Warhawks doubled the lead in the 82nd minute as Sara Navarro netted her first career goal, sending the ball to the top center of the goal off an assist from Eve Blakey, to extend the ULM lead to 3-1.
 
ULM continued to pepper the net in the final moments of the match, with Janet Stopka, Navarro and Libby Holmes each picking up shots on goal in the final seven minutes, but Hall was able to make the saves.
 
Castro earned another save in the 89th minute off a shot by Sam Houston's Ariana Carrington to preserve the 3-1 victory.
 
ULM tallied 23 shots and put 14 on goal. Konst and Skylar Blaise led ULM with five shots each, with Konst putting four shots on goal and Blaise having three. Sam Houston totaled 10 shots with seven on goal. Murray led the Bearkats with four shots, including three on net.
 
Castro played the second half in goal for ULM and made five saves, while Mickaela Leal made one save in the first half. Hall tallied 11 saves for Sam Houston.
 
ULM returns to the pitch at 7 p.m. Thursday at Louisiana Tech.