MONROE, La. – The ULM soccer team (5-11-2, 2-6-1 SBC) returns to Brown Stadium, hosting Southern Miss (6-6-4, 3-4-2 SBC) in the final match of the regular season. The Warhawks will kick off against the Golden Eagles at 1 p.m.

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 GOLDEN EAGLES – 
The Golden Eagles log a 6-6-4 record, landing 3-4-2 in Sun Belt play with wins over Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech and South Alabama. Sitting ninth in the conference standings, the Golden Eagles are battling for a berth to the Sun Belt Tournament. Most recently, USM held onto a 1-1 draw against Georgia Southern. Ava Bynes leads the team with 14 points (6g, 2a), while keeper Logan McGruder sees the majority of minutes with a 1.76 goals-against average and 77 saves.

SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTHERN MISS –
The Golden Eagles report a close 6-5-1 edge in the series history, though the Warhawks have turned the tides in recent meetings. ULM remains unbeaten against Southern Miss since 2018, with a 3-0-1 record since becoming conference foes. The last win ULM took over the Golden Eagles at home was 2024, a 3-0 shutout.

SENIOR SUNDAY –
The Warhawks will take the opportunity in the final home match of the season to recognize six seniors from the ULM Soccer program. Bernadett Stefan and Stacey Qosja have each been with the team for three seasons, as the longest-tenured seniors. Ines de Lope Casanova and team captain Lucia Gomez have seen two seasons with ULM, while Maria Heuman and Jenni Huttunen have seen one.

SHOT ACCURACY –
The Warhawks lead the Sun Belt with a .523 shot accuracy, ranking 25th nationally. ULM has logged 195 shots, with 102 on target this season. First-year Charli Harris leads the team with 32 shots, fourth-year Jenni Huttunen leading with 20 shots on goal.

LAST TIME OUT –
The ULM Warhawks fell on the road to South Alabama, 1-2. While the Warhawks led in shots, eight to five, they also out-fouled the Jaguars, eight to three. The majority of the first half was evenly matched, neither team able to knock in a shot until the 12th minute. 

In the 37th minute, Makena Zukeran broke free, able to find the pass from Andrea Iljkic to score the opening goal for the home team. With the one-goal advantage, the Jaguar defense worked to prevent the equalizer. Holding strong in the final eight minutes, South Alabama remained ahead at the halfway point, 1-0. ULM was able to convert at the start of the second half, however, as Jade Bowé launched a long ball to the back of the net just 47 seconds into the half, assisted by Harris.
 
Multiple set pieces for the Jaguars kept possession on the home side. A free kick set up good field position in the 59th, as Andrea Iljkic claimed a goal of her own to win the contest. ULM battled through the final 30 minutes, shots coming from multiple Warhawks. But the shots did not land in goal, as the score was settled, 2-1.
 
#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 (24) and shutouts (13). Handy ranks fourth nationally in goalie minutes played (1501:35), ranking fourth in the Sun Belt with 69 saves.

O CAPTAINS OUR CAPTAINS –
ULM Soccer has named two team captains this season: defender Beth Strutton and midfielder Lucia Gomez. Strutton enters her second season as a captain, also earning the role in 2025. Strutton was an all-conference selection last season, holding down the Warhawk defense and recording three goals and two assists. Gomez earns the title in her second season with the Warhawks.