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KICKOFF –
The ULM soccer team (3-4-1) hits the road to conclude nonconference play, facing Rice (1-3-3) for the first time in program history. The teams will kick off at 6 p.m. on Thursday (Sept. 10) in Houston. The Warhawks remain on the hunt for a road victory.
FOLLOW THE WARHAWKS –
Thursday’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 OWLS –
Rice currently holds a 1-3-3 record so far this season, claiming victory over Navy. The Owls have seen difficult opponents in Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Texas State and Florida State prior to hosting the Warhawks. Most recently, Rice took a 1-1 tie while playing at #15 Florida State, as first-year Sloane Popov claimed the lone goal. Popov was then recognized by the American Conference in weekly honorable mention. Valentina Labuschagne and Lauren Pickup both lead the team with six points apiece. Kirsten Ruf has earned the majority of starts with a 1.33 goals-against average and 15 saves. The Owls were selected to finish third in the American this season.
FIRST MEETING –
This is the first meeting between the Owls and the Warhawks, one of two opponents ULM will face for the very first time this season. The first was Ole Miss, in which the Warhawks fell, 2-0.
LAST TIME OUT –
ULM fell to the UAB Blazers in Monroe, in a chippy 2-1 contest. After an early goal was scored for the home team, the visitors were able to bounce back. UAB outshot the Warhawks 17-7, with five corners to make scoring attempts.
Less than two minutes into the start of the contest, Angela Moreno notched a shot, proving the Warhawks would push their offense early. But a pass from Charli Harris gave Ines de Lope Casanova the chance to score her second goal of the season in a second-straight game.
While the Blazers claimed several set pieces with opportunities to score, the ULM defense helped maintain the lead. But in the 27th minute, Lauren Lucero got the ball to Caitlin Keeling, who snagged the tying goal. In the 31st minute, Ava Metts found the lead for the 2-1 score. Multiple corner kicks kept possession in UAB’s favor, but Handy captured the saves to prevent additional scores. Unable to find the equalizer, the visitors held the 2-1 score at halftime.
The Warhawks looked to battle in the second half, but UAB held onto possession, continuing to hold strong. Stacey Qosja notched the team’s first shot on goal of the half in the 64th minute, as ULM forged ahead on the search for the equalizer. Back-to-back corner kicks created opportunities for ULM, but both chances fell short as the Warhawks remained behind a goal. The Blazers maintained offensive control to hold onto the lead, claiming the 2-1 win in Monroe.
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 1.31 goals-against average ranks second all-time, as well as her wins (22) and shutouts (13). Handy leads the Sun Belt in goalie minutes played (691:35), ranking second with 37 saves to rank her 12th nationally.
LOOKING AHEAD –
The Warhawks will prepare for Sun Belt Conference play, first facing a former head coach while hosting Old Dominion on September 18. Kickoff against the Monarchs at Brown Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.