Warhawk Soccer Prepares for 2022 Season; Exhibition Saturday vs. LA Tech

The 2021 season saw the Warhawks set several new records. ULM set school records for points (146; 53 goals, 40 assists), goals (53), shots (383) and goals against average (1.04). The offense scored three-or-more goals in nine matches, while the defense allowed one goal or less in 14 matches. After a strong start to the season, ULM rebounded from a mid-season three-match losing skid to win seven of the next eight matches, including the first two wins at the Sun Belt Conference Championship in program history, defeating ninth-seeded Troy, 1-0, and regular-season champion Arkansas State, 2-1, before falling to Georgia Southern in the semifinals.

The Warhawks return eight starters from the 2021 squad, which doesn’t include the return of sophomore forward Janet Stopkawho set the school record for goals in a single season as a true freshman in 2020-21 before suffering an injury early in the 2021 season. Senior forward From Bramesophomore defender Lena Göppel, sophomore forward Mara Grutkampsophomore forward Taylor Henrysophomore midfielder Inge Artsenior defender Eva Lauretjunior defender Lucia Lobato and senior defender Kat Yarbrough are all returning starters, while sophomore goalkeeper Mickaela Lealsenior midfielder Paula Gubajunior midfielder Madi Garzasophomore midfielder/forward Peyton Pipessophomore defender Kali Sweet and senior forward Courtney Martenwho broke Stopka’s single season goals record with 14 in 2021, add depth for the Warhawks.

“Corporate knowledge is something we have talked about since last year,” Fraser said. “The experience they have gained over the past two years, for the majority of this group, will prove invaluable moving forward. We are in a good place.”

ULM has 16 newcomers for the 2022 season. The group includes five transfers from four-year programs in junior goalkeeper Alexa Castro Vivas (Albany State), senior defender Kédie Johnson (FIU), sophomore midfielder Samantha Maudsley (Upper Iowa), junior forward Santana Pressley (Coastal Carolina) and graduate defender Shi Swift (UTRGV). Junior defender Gabby Felix (LSU Eunice) and sophomore defender Stine Blancke (Jacksonville College) bring previous college experience from the JUCO level. Forward Eve Blakeyforward Tru Chamblissgoalkeeper Maddox Dollyforward Gabriella Gracemidfielder Sarah Navarrogoalkeeper Emerson Robertsforward Madison Taylorforward Ashley Washburn and defender Sophia Youngman all join the team as true freshmen in 2022.

“Our newcomers bring depth, experience, youth and quality all rolled into one to add to the returning ingredients,” Fraser said. “I’m excited to see how it continues to develop. There are some great stories there and we are most excited that there’s a couple of really fun projects in the group that we feel we can coach up into top players.”

GOALKEEPERS

One question mark for ULM entering the season comes at goalkeeper. Leal is the lone player with experience at ULM, while Castro played at Albany State. Dolly and Roberts join the team this season as true freshmen.

Leal has played in eight games over two seasons at ULM, making eight saves and posting a 4-0 record. She has been involved in seven shutouts in her eight appearances.

“Mickaela Leal had an outstanding spring as the starter of the team, and with (2021 starter) Hailey Hillock opting to graduate, we took the opportunity to grab Alexa Castro out of the portal,” Fraser said. “She has an exciting profile and we think she will provide great competition for Mickaela.

“Emerson Roberts has been a standout in-state recruit that we thought we must get to ULM,” Fraser said. “She is another really exciting player with huge ability.

“Maddox Dolly has the complete profile to be really, really good. She is tall and has incredible athleticism. We are so fortunate to have all four keepers.”

DEFENDERS

No matter who the keeper is, they will have an experienced back end in front of them. Göppel, Lauret, Lobato and Yarbrough are all returning starters at defender. Göppel and Lauret played in all 20 games in 2021, with Göppel scoring twice with two assists, while Lobato, who scored a goal and added four assists, played in 18 games with 15 starts and Yarbrough, who scored a goal, played in 18 games with 14 starts.

Fraser says several newcomers will factor in the mix in the back end.

“Lucia (Lobato), Sophia (Youngman), Gabby (Felix) and Kédie (Johnson) have had an excellent start at full back for us, while Lena (Göppel), Kali (Sweet), Kat (Yarbrough), Stine (Blancke) and Shi (Swift) make for a depth-filled position at center back with great competition there,” Fraser said. “We are hoping we can find the right balance at the back. We need to keep more shutouts this season.”

MIDFIELDERS

In the midfield, Grutkamp and Konst return after breakout true freshman campaigns. Grutkamp was honorable mention All-Louisiana and named to the Sun Belt Conference Championship All-Tournament team after scoring six goals with five assists on 37 shots last season. Konst returns after scoring three goals while adding five assists in 2021.

Garza, who enters her fifth season at ULM in 2022, returns to provide some depth in the midfield after adding a goal last season. Guba, who redshirted the 2020-21 season and missed time in 2021 with an injury, is back after scoring a goal in 12 matches with eight starts last season.

“We added Samantha Maudsley and Sarah Navarro to the midfield mix,” Fraser said. “Both have been outstanding so far. Madi (Garza), Paula (Guba) and Inge (Konst) all return so we’re in a great place there. Mara Grutkamp is a key returner, too.”

FORWARDS

The Warhawks also have immense depth up front. Marten tallied a school-record 14 goals while adding an assist last season while earning Second-Team All-Sun Belt Conference and First-Team All-Louisiana honors. She provided quick-strike success for ULM, playing in just 741 minutes and converting on 60 percent of her shots on goal.

Stopka returns after missing the final 14 matches of the 2021 season with a leg injury. She scored four goals and added an assist in just six matches after scoring a then school-record 10 goals as a true freshman in 2020-21.

Brame returns for her senior season after scoring a goal and picking up four assists last season, while Henry comes back after scoring twice with three assists as a true freshman.

Fraser also notes that Pressley, a Coastal Carolina transfer, as well as freshmen Ashley Washburn and Gabriella Grace also add depth up front.

“Santana (Pressley) was a great addition in the spring,” Fraser said. “We love her athletic profile, as well as what she is able to contribute.

“Efi (Brame) has been brilliant and just so consistent for us over the past two years.

“We have added Ashley Washburn and Gabriella Gracewho are both very athletic but have excellent technical quality to back that up.

“At striker, there’s four players for one position. Janet (Stopka), Eve (Blakey), Courtney (Marten) and Taylor (Henry) are all in the mix. I haven’t a clue who will play. Tru Chambliss has also had an excellent start to life at ULM.”

Additionally, Fraser is excited about the return of sophomore Peyton Pipeswho adds depth at nearly every position.

“She can play anywhere,” Fraser said. “She’s a coach’s dream player.”

SCHEDULE

After opening the schedule with an exhibition match against I-20 rival Louisiana Tech at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at Brown Stadium, ULM will go on the road for six non-conference matches while playing just three home dates before the start of Sun Belt Conference play. ULM meets NCAA Division I newcomer Texas A&M-Commerce to open the season at 5 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 21, in Commerce, before heading to Alcorn State on Aug. 24.

The Warhawks play the home opener at 6 p.m., Friday, Aug. 26, against Grambling State at Brown Stadium. After visiting Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State and Southern, ULM returns to Brown Stadium for matches against Texas Southern on Sept. 9 (ESPN+) and Tarleton State on Sept. 11 (ESPN+). The Warhawks wrap up the non-conference slate at Prairie View A&M on Sept. 15.

The Sun Belt Conference takes a new look this season as Little Rock departs the league and James Madison, Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Miss join the league, putting the conference at 14 teams in soccer. Only the Top 10 teams in the final standings will qualify for the Sun Belt Conference Championship, starting Oct. 31, in Foley, Alabama.

“I like the league,” Fraser said. “There are some very good teams, both new and returning. Every game will be a good challenge, and we will need to be at our best.”

SBC play begins on Sept. 18 at App State before ULM hosts Southern Miss on Sept. 22. After a visit to Texas State on Sept. 25, the Warhawks meet Marshall for the first time in Monroe on Oct. 1 (ESPN+). ULM heads to South Alabama on Oct. 6 before embarking on a three-game homestand against Arkansas State (Oct. 9, ESPN+), the Ragin’ Cajuns (Oct. 16, ESPN+) and Georgia Southern (Oct. 20, ESPN+). The Warhawks close out the regular season on the road against Troy (Oct. 23) and Coastal Carolina (Oct. 27).