MONROE, La. – A late goal by Giulia Franco in the 84^th minute lifted the ULM soccer team (9-2-3, 4-0-3 Sun Belt) to a 3-2 win over Appalachian State (5-6-3, 1-3-3 Sun Belt) Saturday night.
 
It was Franco's fourth goal of the season, which places her second on the team. Skylar Blaise and Ines de Lope Casanova combined for the assists on the score.
 
The Warhawks have won two straight and remain undefeated in conference play. The win also puts them in first place in the West Division and tied for first overall in the Sun Belt.
 
In the match, ULM controlled the time of possession, possessing the ball for 59% of the 90-minute contest. It also led in total shots (19-6), shots on goal (9-4), and corner kick opportunities (9-0).
 
The Mountaineers started with the lead early, as Reagan Sturgill struck for her first goal of the season to put them up 1-0. Franco, Blaise, and Ally Richardson combined for three shots within the first ten minutes, but none were on target.
 
In the 13^th and 16^th minutes, ULM created its first two corner kick opportunities, both resulting in no goals. In the 22^nd minute, App State put its second shot on goal, only for goalkeeper Jen Hardy to deny the chance.
 
In minute 31, after a failed corner kick chance, the Warhawks got a second chance, which Beth Strutton did not miss. Her third goal of the year, assisted by Marget Edda Bjarnadottir, not only put ULM on the board but also showed the result of the continuous Warhawk pressure throughout the match. Blaise produced three shots for the rest of the half, none of which went through, keeping the score at a 1-1 tie entering the break.
 
Both teams started evenly in the second half with two shots total. In the 59th minute, a well-aimed pass by de Lope Casanova sailed across the field right to Blaise, who turned a breakaway into a lead-taking goal, completing the highlight reel play.
 
ULM kept building the pressure as it totaled five shots in the next 20 minutes compared to App State's one. With the Mountaineers finally getting the ball in the Warhawks' zone, Olivia Simon drove in an unassisted goal for the late equalizer in the 82^nd minute. ULM didn't flinch as it brought possession into the Mountaineer zone, building momentum until the final score by Franco.
 
App State had one final chance in minute 89 with a shot, but the ball sailed over the crossbar, ending the opportunity. ULM drained the remaining two minutes of the clock to secure the victory.
 
Blaise led with a goal and an assist, while Franco and Strutton scored their one goal, both of which were assisted by de Lope Casanova.
 
The Warhawks are back next weekend on Sunday, Oct. 19, with the home finale against Troy.