THIBODAUX, La. – After taking a late one goal lead in the first half, the Nicholls State University women's soccer team got three more in the 62nd, 75th and 77th minute as the Colonels defeated the ULM Warhawks 4-1 Sunday afternoon in Thibodaux.

Winners of two straight, Nicholls (3-4) has outscored their last three opponents 11-3 over that time, holding ULM (2-5) to one goal on seven shots on the afternoon.

A balanced attack produced goals by four different Colonel players as Spencer Valdespino scored her fourth goal of the season on four shots and adding an assist. Jess Coates got her third goal of the year, Lauren O'Brien got her second and Janelle Brandom netted her first of the season on the day.

Annie Newell made her mark on the game, chipping in two assists on O'Brien and Valdespino's goals.

After nine shots in the first half, the Colonels got six more in the second to outshoot the Warhawks 15-7 over the course of the game. Amanda Boylson (1-4) played all 90 minutes, allowing just one goal with three saves.

A physical first half by both groups provided fireworks as there were a total of 11 fouls and a yellow card given in the first 45 minutes of play.

With less than four minutes in the half, Lauren O'Brien was fouled driving to the goal, earning the Colonels a penalty kick opportunity. Coates, who is 2-for-2 on PK's this season drilled her third of the season in the 41st minute to put Nicholls up 1-0.

Of the nine shots for Nicholls in the half, five were on goal, as ULM only had four shots total in the half with three being on goal.

In the 48th minute, Newell found Valdespino running down the left side of the box and launched a pass that the freshman Valdespino headed in to give Nicholls a 2-0 lead.

After helping produce the first goal of the match, O'Brien got retribution in the second as passes from Valdespino and Newell found its way to the sophomore near the right post and fired a shot past the keeper for a 3-0 Nicholls advantage.

After a ULM score in the 75th minute by Kelly Riley, a foul gave Nicholls a free kick that Brandom used to find the back of the net for her first goal of the season in the 77th minute for the game's final score.

The Colonels will be back in action next Sunday, hosting the Prairie View A&M Panthers at Noon at the Nicholls Soccer Complex.

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