Boxscore MONROE, La. ? Despite going toe-to-toe with their in-state rival for most of the match, Louisiana Tech could not convert their numerous scoring chances and fell at Louisiana-Monroe, 2-1, on Sunday at the ULM Soccer Complex. Louisiana Tech remains winless on the season at 0-6-0 while the Warhawks improved to 4-3-0.
Tech had a season-high 14 shots, including seven on goal, but was only able to beat ULM keeper Mallory George once.
Brooke Lanie, Rautio and Gresham combined for nine of Tech?s 14 shots, including four of the seven shots on goal. The game was very physical with 10 fouls being called on each side and numerous other instances where one could have been called, including a near-fistfight midway through the first half.
The injury bug, which has bitten Louisiana Tech often this season, struck again in the second half as junior
Amy Wolsted left the game with an apparent leg injury. Her status is uncertain as she joins starters
Jill Medigovich,
Emily Cleaveland and
Caitlin Crawford on Tech?s ?Rehab Row.?
?The players we have are giving everything they?ve got,? Tech head coach
Kevin Sherry said. I can?t ask for any more than what they are giving right now. But just about everything that could go wrong has gone wrong so far, we?ve hit a long string of bad luck, and our confidence is very low right now. We?ve got to work through the rough times and keep believing that better times are ahead.?
ULM would strike first as they had a direct free kick from about 19 yards after a foul by Tech just outside of the box, right in front of the goal. Allison Matson made the most of it, scoring her first goal of the season and giving the Warhawks a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.
The Warhawks would add to their lead in the 26th minute as Britnie Markham bent a nice shot inside the near post and out of the reach of
Tara Gavlak, giving ULM a 2-0 lead.
But Louisiana Tech would answer in the closing minutes of the first half as freshman
Erika Rautio took a great pass from
Kiva Gresham, got past the ULM keeper and had a wide-open net for her first career goal, pulling the Techsters to within 2-1 and gaining momentum heading into the halftime break.
However, that momentum would be short-lived as neither team would seriously threaten in the second half. Tech had the best look in the 63rd minute when Gresham took a cross and directed it toward the near post, but her attempt went just inches wide.
Junior team captain
Brittany Davis made her first start and second appearance of the season after missing the first four contests with a nagging injury.
Chinaka Springer, in her second game with the Lady Techsters, made her first career start as well.
The Techsters will leave the state for the first time this season when they travel to Nacogdoches, Texas, to face Stephen F. Austin on Friday. Kick-off against the Ladyjacks is set for 7 p.m.
