JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State soccer team opened the 2018 with a dominating offensive output in a 2-1 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Friday night at a drenched JSU Soccer Field.

The contest marked JSU's return to athletics on its home venues after a tornado last March ravished the campus and community.  The winning result in the season opener is the second for JSU under the direction of Neil Macdonald.  JSU has now won both meetings with ULM after a 2-0 blanking last season in Monroe, Louisiana.

The Gamecocks pelted the ball toward the ULM goal for most of the contest with a 19-4 edge in total shots. JSU held the Warhawks in check for nearly 70 minutes of the contest and limited the visitors from Louisiana to one shot.  Senior Madison Carriuthers tallied a career-high seven shots, including five on goal opportunities.  Senior Claire Petersen added three shots, while sophomore Lindsay Albani posted a pair of shots.

JSU recorded the first of two first half scoring plays in the 17th minute on a play that was started by redshirt junior Danelle Lindo's shot from just past the midfield stripe.  The ball caromed off the ULM keeper to junior Rachel Blanding on the left side, who drilled the ball in to the right corner pocket of the goal.

Jax State kept the momentum throughout the first 45 minutes and added the eventual game-winner in the 36th minute.  Junior Nadia Plawiuk connected on the goal from the left side of the box and past the keeper.  Plawiuk finished with three shots in the opener.

The Warhawks broke through for their first goal of the season and tightened the contest the rest of the way with a goal by Cassidy Wiest.  ULM's Alexandria Skidmore and Skekinah Wells were credited with the assists.

The Gamecocks will look to maintain the momentum gained from its season-opening performance with a trip to Jackson, Mississippi to face the Tigers of Jackson State.  Match time is set for 1 p.m. in the capitol city of the Magnolia state.