LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA — ULM pulled off a stunning upset Wednesday night, rallying past Louisiana Ragin' Cajun 2-1 in a Sun Belt Conference matchup that saw the Warhawks score the decisive goal late in the second half. The visiting team's resilience proved too much for the Ragin' Cajuns, who dominated stretches of play but couldn't hold on when it mattered most. The match drew a crowd to Louisianna's home pitch in what turned into a dramatic finish.
Skylar Blaise broke through for ULM in the 37th minute, assisted by Ally Richardson, giving the Warhawks an early lead they carried into halftime. Louisiana equalized through Miku Kurihara in the 57th minute, leveling the match and setting up a tense final stretch. Ava Goodman's goal in the 78th minute ultimately sealed the victory for ULM, sending the away supporters into celebration as Louisiana's comeback bid fell short.
The first half belonged largely to Louisiana, who controlled possession and created multiple chances. Carson Glenn and Raegan Latiolais both tested ULM's defense with shots that went wide, while Sisley Stephens and Miku Kurihara added pressure throughout the opening 45 minutes. Despite the Ragin' Cajuns' territorial advantage, ULM's clinical finishing on the counterattack proved the difference, with Blaise capitalizing on a well-executed transition to put the visitors ahead.
Louisiana came out aggressive after the break, immediately pushing forward to equalize. The Ragin' Cajuns' persistence paid off when Kurihara found the back of the net in the 57th minute, breathing new life into their attack. Sydney Byrnes and Carson Glenn continued to create chances, but ULM's defense, anchored by Libby Holmes and others, stood firm through the middle stages of the second half.
The match remained tightly contested as both teams made tactical adjustments. Louisiana made wholesale changes at halftime, rotating seven players to inject fresh energy into their lineup. ULM countered with their own substitutions, including bringing off Ines De Lope Casanova and later Janne Van Brummelen to manage the intensity. These moves shaped the flow of play, with neither team able to establish complete control.
ULM's winning goal came when Goodman struck in the 78th minute, a crucial moment that proved decisive in the final accounting. The Warhawks' goalkeeper made three saves to Louisiana's one, reflecting the difference in efficiency between the teams. ULM finished with 3 shots on goal from 5 attempts, while Louisiana managed 4 on goal from 13 shots—a stark illustration of how the visitors' precision overcame the home team's volume.
Libby Holmes earned a yellow card late for ULM, while Louisiana's Chloe Mueller also saw yellow in the closing stages. The physical nature of the match intensified down the stretch, with both teams picking up additional cautions. ULM's defensive discipline, despite the pressure, ultimately held up when it counted most.
The loss snapped Louisiana's two-game winning streak after victories over Old Dominion and Troy. ULM, meanwhile, improved to 11-2-4 overall with the road win, extending their strong season. The Warhawks' 2-1 record in conference play now positions them well in the Sun Belt standings, while Louisiana falls to 7-6-4 and must regroup quickly.
ULM returns home for their next contest, looking to build on this momentum, while Louisiana hosts their next opponent at home seeking to bounce back from the disappointing loss to a team that came in as visitors.