MONROE, La. – Little Rock got a pair of second half goals from
Jana Heinen and
Allison Morrison, and the Trojan defense shut down the Sun Belt's highest scoring offense to record their eighth clean sheet of the season in a 2-0 win at ULM Friday night.
The win improves Little Rock to 6-3-3 on the year and 2-0-2 in Sun Belt play, earning three crucial points in the conference standings. The victory extends Little Rock's unbeaten streak to six games, allowing just one goal during that span, as the Trojans won their seventh-straight against the Warhawks.
"There's not an easy game in our conference," said head coach
Mark Foster. "ULM came in unbeaten, so this was a big statement for us to make to get a road win in this league. This team has been working hard, and they've stuck together, and now they're getting a chance to take advantage. It's not about being the best in the league right now – it's about being the best in November, but this win was a big step forward for us."
After battling to a scoreless first half, Little Rock came out the aggressor in the second half and struck first in the 52nd minute off Heinen's team-best fourth goal of the season, putting a shot through the center of the net past the Warhawk goalkeeper. The Trojans would extend that lead in the 76th minute when Morrison scored her first career goal, putting it into the bottom left corner of the goal to give Little Rock the insurance goal.
From there, the Trojan defense did its job, limiting ULM to just a pair of shots on goal and registering the eighth shutout of the season. The Warhawks came into the match leading the league at 4.12 goals per game but were held scoreless for the first time this season as Little Rock handed ULM its first loss of the season.
"In the first half, ULM controlled the tempo, especially in the midfield," Foster said. "We saw some things we could take advantage of in the second half, so we pressed more offensively and it resulted in a pair of goals. We had some other chances as well, but the adjustment we made at the half helped open things up in the second half for us."
The victory came despite being outshot 11-5 on the game, but the Trojans made their shots count, putting three of the five on net, including the pair of goals. Goalkeeper
Saskia Wagner recorded her first win of the season, and her third shutout in the process, recording a pair of saves in the win.
Offensively for Little Rock,
Fanney Einarsdottir,
Skylar Garner and
Abbie Smith each recorded shots on the night to add to the pair from Heinen and Morrison, with Garner and Smith each putting a shot on goal for the Trojans.
Little Rock now makes the trek to Texas for a Sunday afternoon showdown with Texas State, who is coming off a 3-1 loss to Arkansas State Friday evening. Opening draw against the Bobcats is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Bobcat Soccer Complex in San Marcos.
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