MONROE, La. – The ULM soccer team (8-7-2, 2-4-2) hits the road for its final conference match on the road, taking on South Alabama (9-5-2, 4-2-2). The Warhawks are looking to come back after a home shutout vs. Coastal Carolina on Wednesday.
SERIES HISTORY– This is the 21st meeting between the Warhawks and the Jaguars, a series dating back 25 years. The first meeting between the teams was Sept. 19, 1999, when South Alabama beat ULM 4-0 in Monroe. The most recent meeting was Oct. 1, 2023, when both teams tied for the first time in the series. The last and only win for the Warhawks in the series was Oct. 10, 2021, when they claimed a 3-1 win in Monroe.
SCOUTING THE JAGUARS –
South Alabama is planted firmly towards the top of the Sun Belt West, fighting to a 0-0 draw with top team Texas State on Thursday. The teams the Jaguars have claimed conference wins over include the Ragin' Cajuns, Troy, Georgia State and Arkansas State. They have also captured six shutouts in their season thus far, four being clean sheet wins. In 2023, South Alabama finished 16-1-3 on the season, falling in the second round of the Sun Belt Championship to James Madison.
LAST TIME OUT –
MONROE, La. – The ULM soccer team dropped their third straight match on Wednesday night, falling to Coastal Carolina at home. In their second home loss of the season, fouls took over the Warhawk offense, leading to two scores by the Chanticleers.
The first half was evenly matched for both teams, the Warhawks and the Chanticleers each picking up shots on target early on. Coastal Carolina took the lead in the 32nd minute off a Warhawk foul. In the 63rd minute, the Chanticleers found the back of the net again, making it 2-0.
In a match overrun by fouls, the Warhawks claimed 16 fouls to the Chanticleers' 11. Both teams tied in corner kicks with two and Coastal Carolina led in saves 5-2. In shots, the Warhawks led with eight, five being on target. Leading ULM in shots was senior midfielder Mara Grutkamp with three, one being on goal.
BRACE YOURSELF –
Skylar Blaise claimed the second brace of her career against James Madison, her first coming against Texas State last season. Three other Warhawks have claimed a brace this season: Mara Grutkamp and Sara Navarro both tallied two goals against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Aug. 15 and Emelie Kobler scored two goals against Nicholls on Aug. 25. Blaise joins an elite group with multiple multi-goal games in their career, two being on the current roster: Grutkamp and Eleonora Franco.
SPREADING THE WEALTH –
13 different Warhawks have scored a goal over 17 matches of the season and 14 have earned points. In the Aug. 15 season opener vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, seven different ULM players scored a goal. Skylar Blaise leads the pack with 15 points. The lone freshman to factor into points is Beth Strutton, earning two points in her first career goal vs. Grambling State.
GRUTKAMP MAKING THE MOST OF SENIOR SEASON –
Senior Mara Grutkamp begins 2024 on the record books in eight different categories and is continuing to rise in the ranks. In career records, Grutkamp is moving up the leaderboard in points, her 54 points placing her third. She is third in shots (194) and shots on goal (92), fourth in game-winning goals (5) and seventh in goals (16). She currently holds the second position in assists (22), just two behind Karlea Fehr (24, 2012-15).
Grutkamp also ranks high in shot accuracy, shots on goal and shots on goal per game. Her .659 shot accuracy is 11th in the NCAA, with 29 shots on goal ranking 38th and 1.71 per game placing her 53rd.
FOLLOW THE WARHAWKS –
Sunday's match will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available. Links to live stats and video streams for all matches, when available, can be found at ULMWarhawks.com.
LOOKING AHEAD –
Next up, ULM soccer will return to Brown Stadium for their final match of the regular season. The Warhawks will be taking on Southern Miss in Monroe on Thursday at 6 p.m., with a senior night celebration at halftime.
