WHO: Old Dominion (11-2-4, 6-1-3 SBC) vs ULM (12-2-4, 6-0-4 SBC)
WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 5 – 5 p.m. EST
WHERE: Foley, Ala. / Foley Sports Tourism Complex
LAST MEETING: Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 – ODU 1-0 ULM
STREAM: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: Click Here
NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion women’s soccer faces the ULM Warhawks in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex.
The game will be streamed to ESPN+ and live stats will be available for any fans who wish to follow along with the action.
LAST TIME OUT:
ODU defeated ULM, 1-0 on Sept. 26, 2024 in Norfolk. After an even first half, ODU was the beneficiary of a fortuitous bounce nearly 18 minutes into the second half. Katie Lutz served one into the box, aiming for Yuliia Khrystiuk whose crossing attempt found the foot of a ULM defender before it landed in the back of the net in the 63rd minute for the 1-0 advantage. ODU ended the game outshooting ULM 10-4 and held a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal. Each team had a pair of corner kicks with ODU having two in the first half and ULM having theirs in the second.
ABOUT ODU:
The Monarchs are coming off back-to-back wins against Georgia State. ODU defeated the Panthers 2-1 in the final game of the regular season and dispatched GSU 4-0 in the SBC Quarterfinals. Ashlynn Kulha was named the first-ever back-to-back Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and six Monarchs made All-Conference Teams.
Kulha was selected to the All-Sun Belt first team, she has played almost every single minute this season and is a big reason why ODU ranks second in the Sun Belt in total goals allowed (14) and goals against average (.88). In conference games, ODU’s ranking stays the same being tied for second in goals allowed (9) and goals against average (.90).
Gry Boe Thrysoe earned a selection on the All-Sun Belt second team, Thrysoe ranks tied for fourth in the Sun Belt in 27 shots and shots per game (2.70). Her six goals in all games are tied for seventh in the conference and her .35 goals per game is tied for eighth.
Yuliia Khrystiuk, Andy Balcazar, Ellie Goodrich, and Ashley Economopoulos all made the third team. Khrystiuk leads the Monarchs with eight assists, Balcazar has scored three goals and provided two assists, Goodrich has made nine starts and has made nine saves while keeping six clean sheets. Economopoulos is a freshman forward who ranks tied for third on the Monarchs in points (13). She has scored four goals and dished out five assists.
ABOUT ULM:
ULM is coming off a 1-0 win over Marshall, Ava Goodman scored the lone goal of the game in the 23rd minute. The Warhawks held the Thundering Herd to three shots on target to keep the clean sheet. ULM head coach Will Roberts took home Sun Belt Coach of the Year.
The Warhawks are led by Sun Belt Player of the Year Skylar Blaise. Blaise has started all 18 games and leads the Sun Belt with 12 goals and 27 points. Defender Libby Holmes was selected to the All-Sun Belt first team. Goalkeeper Jen Handy was chosen on the second team. Midfielder Margret Edda Bjarnadottir and defender Beth Strutton each made the third team.
UP NEXT:
The Sun Belt Conference Championship will take place on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. EST at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex. Number one seed South Alabama and number four seed Texas State play at 7 p.m. on Wednesday following the completion of ODU’s game.