MONROE, La. – The ULM soccer program returns to the ULM Soccer Complex as it hosts Arkansas State at 3:00 p.m. on Friday and UALR at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday with significant post-season implications at stake.
The Warhawks enter the weekend with a 5-8-1 record and 0-3 in Sun Belt Conference play. Arkansas State comes in it 6-5-2, 1-2 SBC while UALR sits at 3-9-0, 0-3 SBC. Of the nine teams in the league, the top eight will qualify for the SBC Championships in San Marcos, Texas on Nov. 6-10.
ULM returns to Monroe after playing a one-game home contest in Alexandria, La. at the Johnny Downs Sports Complex. The Warhawks are 4-1-1 in games at the ULM Soccer Complex this season and have out-scored opponents 20-4 in those match-ups.
Big crowds have worked to ULM's advantage as the program defeated Grambling State 9-0 on Aug. 25 in front of a record attendance number of 356. In the six games at the ULM Soccer Complex, freshman
Jenna Pillon has scored seven goals. She leads the team with 17 points on the season.
Unselfish play has been a staple for the Warhawks as they rank second in the SBC with 34 assists (2.50 a/g).
Cerene Arsenault,
Mary Ashton Lembo and
Kylie Kukowski each have tallied four assists to lead the team, while
Karlea Fehr, Pillon and Allie Dickson have all dished out three.
ULM's back line has been consistent this year and a point of emphasis.
Cameron Stoker is the only Warhawk to start every game this season, while
Whitney Tuckfield and Arsenault have started 13 of 14 games. Dickson missed three games due to injury, but has started in all 11 games she has played.
The Warhawks, who carry 21 freshmen on the roster, have shown their youth by starting at least eight newcomers in every game this season. They started nine freshmen in 10 of the last 11 contests, and 10 started against No. 25 LSU.
ASU fell to Troy 1-0 and South Alabama 2-0 last weekend. Its conference victory came at home against UALR 2-1. The Red Wolves are 1-4-1 on the road this season. Sophomore Loren Mitchell leads the team with seven goals and 17 points.
UALR has dropped a trio of one-goal games in SBC play, including a pair of 1-0 games over the weekend against South Alabama and Troy. Senior Paige Mason has propelled the Trojan offense with four goals and eight points on the year.
Follow the ULM soccer program on twitter, @ULM_Soccer, for all of the latest news and live in-game updates.
