RUSTON, La. – The ULM soccer team (3-8-1, 0-3 SBC) is on the road again, on the hunt for a Sun Belt victory in the first iteration of the Radiance Technologies I-20 Showdown. The Warhawks will face Louisiana Tech (2-7-2, 0-2-1 SBC) in Ruston at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 4).

FOLLOW THE WARHAWKS –

Sunday's match will be available for streaming on ESPN+, and live stats for the match will also be available. Links to live stats and video streams for all matches, when available, can be found at ULMWarhawks.com. 

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS – 

Louisiana Tech holds a 2-7-2 record and an 0-2-1 conference record in the team's first season in the Sun Belt. The Bulldogs logged nonconference victories over HCU and Stephen F. Austin, along with a tie to Nicholls. Louisiana Tech also logged a Sun Belt draw with Marshall, then falling to App State and most recently, a 1-2 loss to Southern Miss. Abby Hanton leads the team with nine points (3g, 3a), as Mackenzie Lorkowski holds it down in goal with 85 saves from over 900 minutes. 

SERIES HISTORY VS. LOUISIANA TECH –

The Bulldogs and the Warhawks are facing off for the ninth time in program history, not having faced off since 2023. Louisiana Tech has taken control of the series, with a 6-1-1 edge, as the series dates back to 2007. When playing in Ruston, ULM has forced one draw, with three losses as the team hunts for the first-ever victory at Louisiana Tech.

I-20 SHOWDOWN –

The soccer match is the first competition for the Radiance Technologies I-20 Showdown, also the first head-to-head contest for Louisiana Tech and ULM as conference opponents. In the I-20 Showdown, both teams have opportunities to record points from wins over the other. The first to 6.5 points of the 12 available will clinch the victory. The first competition in Monroe will be in football on October 17.

LAST TIME OUT –

The ULM Warhawks dropped a third Sun Belt contest to Arkansas State in a 3-2 contest. The Warhawks led with 12 shots to ASU's eight, 10 being on target. ULM out-fouled the Red wolves, 13 to seven, as early fouls gave Arkansas State multiple free kick chances in the opening minutes. 

Set pieces also became the name of the game, as the Warhawks took nine corner opportunities and a penalty kick. Taylor O'Rear became the first ULM player to log a shot on target in the 14th minute, Teresa Jacobsen following to put the pressure on Taylor Sweat. But it was a 22nd-minute goal from the free kick that gave Arkansas State the 1-0 lead.

Just four minutes later, after two corners from ULM, an ASU corner allowed for Kennedy Horn to find the back of the net for the 2-0 lead just 26 minutes into the contest. While the Warhawks led in fouls, three yellow cards made their way to Red Wolves, the first coming in the 36th minute, as Ines de Lope Casanova logged her first shot of the day, recording three in the match.

Even as the Warhawks pushed to find a score, the 2-0 lead withstood through the first half. After a foul-ridden start to the second half, a penalty kick was drawn in the 62nd minute. De Lope took the shot, closing the gap for ULM.

Another set piece brought on a scoring opportunity, as Victoria Vinals notched a corner to Beth Strutton, who nailed the back of the net with her head for the equalizer. Now at a 2-2 draw, the Warhawks turned the momentum in their favor to fight. But in the 73rd minute, it was a penalty kick in favor of the Red Wolves that had them finding the game winner. After the kick was missed, Horn recorded a brace on the rebound. As the Warhawks continued to fight for another equalizer to keep the comeback going, Arkansas State's defense prevented additional scoring and was able to walk away with the 3-2 victory.

FIRST-YEAR FIRE –

Victoria Vinals opened the season with a goal in the 80th minute at Little Rock. Vinals is the first first-year player to open the season's scoring since 2018. Charli Harris then followed with a brace against Alcorn, making her the first first-year since 2022 to record a multi-goal game, the lone first-year in the Sun Belt with multiple goals in the opening week of competition. Harris followed the week with her first career assist against Jackson State, now posting three this season.

#1 IN GOAL –

Jen Handy returns for a third season in goal for the Warhawks after earning the starting role in her first. Named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team in 2025, Handy currently holds multiple ULM records, including shutouts in a season (7, 2024). In her career, her 1.37 goals-against average ranks second all-time, as well as her wins (22) and shutouts (13). Handy ranks second in the Sun Belt in goalie minutes played (1051:35), also ranking second with 55 saves to rank her 23rd nationally.

LOOKING AHEAD –

The Warhawks will return to Brown Stadium on October 8, hosting Georgia State at 7 p.m. CT.