LITTLE ROCK –
Quin Wilkes and
Jaclyn Purvine helped give Little Rock a two goal advantage, then the Trojans withstood a late ULM charge to record their first Sun Belt Conference victory of the year, defeating the Warhawks 2-1 at the Coleman Sports Complex.
The victory pushes Little Rock's record to 6-5-1 on the year and gives the Trojans three crucial points in the Sun Belt Conference standings, improving to 1-1-1 on the season. Little Rock also remained unbeaten at home in 2017, posting a 6-0-1 mark at Coleman.
Wilkes opened up the scoring in the 22nd minute, eluding a double team at the top of the box, then spinning to her right to get past a Warhawk defender, firing a shot that slipped just under the crossbar and putting Little Rock up 1-0. The goal was part of another offensively-dominated half by the Trojans, outshooting the Warhawks 10-2 over the first 45 minutes.
Wilkes then had a hand in Little Rock's second goal of the night, taking an errant pass deep in ULM's zone in the 65th minute and heading a Trojan break. Wilkes fed a pass to Purvine shadowing on the left, who then rocketed a shot to the far side of the goal, beating a diving Warhawk goalkeeper to push the Little Rock lead to 2-0.
But the Trojan goal seemed to energize the ULM attack as the Warhawks upped their offensive intensity over the final 20 minutes, capped by their goal in the 72nd minute. ULM's Danielle LaFrance fired a long shot on net that hit the crossbar and ricocheted straight down where it was covered by Trojan goalkeeper
Megan Swanson for what looked like her fourth save of the night. But the officials ruled the ball had crossed the goal line prior as ULM pulled to within one at 2-1.
Both Little Rock and ULM had a handful of chances over the game's final 20 minutes but neither were able to find the back of the net, giving Little Rock the hard fought victory.
For the game, the Trojans outshot the Warhawks 16-7, putting seven shots on goal. Liesa Siefert registered a team-high three shots on the night with Purvine, Wilkes,
Morgan Smocovich, Erna Gudjonsdottir and
Sairra Tucker each taking a pair of shots.
Defensively, Swanson recorded three saves on the night to earn the victory, improving to 4-5-1 on the year. Little Rock held a 6-1 edge in corner kicks while fouls were nearly even at 9-8, a combined 12 of which came in the second half as both teams' intensity increased.
Little Rock next returns to action Sunday, hosting Coastal Carolina to wrap up its three game home stand and stretch of five home games over its last six contests. Opening draw against the Chanticleers is set for 12 p.m.
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