MONROE, La. – The ULM soccer team (1-1) will continue on their three-match road trip, taking on Nicholls (0-1) in the Colonels' home opener at Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex on Thursday (Aug. 21) at 6 p.m CT.
SCOUTING THE COLONELS –
Nicholls State went 2-13-1 last season, finishing 11th in the conference. The Colonels return 18 players from the 2024 squad, including Mylea Riggle, the lone returner with a career goal. With 14 newcomers coming in under second-year head coach Kristy Helmers, Nicholls State is on the hunt for success in 2025. The Colonels have opened the season with a 0-3 loss to Grambling State, but open play at home against the Warhawks.
SPREADING THE WEALTH –
Five different Warhawks have scored each of the five goals this season and eight have earned points. In the Aug. 14 season opener vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, four different ULM players scored a goal. Giulia Franco and Beth Strutton lead the pack with three points each.
SERIES VS. NICHOLLS –
This is the 24th meeting between the Colonels and the Warhawks, the first in Thibodaux since 2021. The first meeting between the two teams was the first season of ULM Soccer in 1999, in which the Warhawks split the conference meetings with Nicholls, 1-1. ULM leads the series with a 15-6-2 record, but the Warhawks hold the current streak with four wins. The most recent win came last season, with ULM claiming a 4-0 shutout at home over the Colonels.
LAST TIME OUT –
MONROE, La. – The ULM women's soccer team fell on the road at Central Arkansas in a 1-3 contest. The Bears continue their win streak in the series after scoring three times in the second half to come back from a 1-0 deficit.
In the first half, ULM started out hot offensively, quickly collecting three shots in the first seven minutes, two coming from Ava Goodman. In the 17th minute, Goodman was able to make contact with the net by way of a header, claiming the 1-0 lead for ULM. Continued shots throughout the first half gave the Warhawks the potential to extend the lead, but saves by goalkeeper Anna Katherine Harrell maintained the one-goal lead.
The second half pushed Central Arkansas to move into an offensively strong position, as they notched four shots, with goalkeeper Harrell claiming seven saves. In the 55th minute, Caroline Billings tied things up with a shot reaching the top left of the net. The Warhawks continued to fight for a break in the tie, claiming 11 shots just in the second half of the contest. In the 72nd minute, Makenna Adam send a shot high left for the Central Arkansas lead, 20-1. Just seven minutes later, Trace Pavatt cleaned things up with the third goal of the second half, securing the win for the Bears.
Goalkeeper Jen Handy clinched one save and allowed three goals across 90 minutes of play. Goodman led the team with two points from the lone Warhawk goal of the contest, also putting up five shots. Franco also collected a point from her assist to Goodman's goal. Skylar Blaise notched a team-leading seven shots to tie her career high, six being on goal in her 81 minutes of play.
O CAPTAINS OUR CAPTAINS –
ULM Soccer has named three captains this season: forward Skylar Blaise, defender Beth Strutton and defender Libby Holmes. Blaise and Holmes are in their third seasons at ULM, while Strutton is in her second. Blaise, a senior, led the team in points and goals in 2024, making 19 starts. Holmes did not see much action last season due to injury, but her leadership continued off the field. Strutton made an immediate impact as a freshman, scoring two goals last season, both being game winners.
FOLLOW THE WARHAWKS –
Thursday's match will have live stats available, while it will not be available on streaming. Links to live stats and video streams for all matches, when available, can be found at ULMWarhawks.com.
LOOKING AHEAD –
ULM continues on the final match of a three-match road trip on Sunday (Aug. 24), facing the UAB Blazers in the first meeting in program history. Sunday's match will begin at 7 p.m. in Birmingham.
