LAKE CHARLES - It was a matchup that would come down to the final minutes but in the end it was McNeese's freshman forward, Havana Johnson, who made the last call in Sunday's non-conference match up against the ULM Warhawks on the road in Monroe.
 
Johnson was dealt a ball from her accompanying forward, senior Savannah LaRicci and was able to overcome and outrun four Warhawk defenders and send the ball to the back of the net with only 36 seconds remaining in regulation.
 
"Savannah found me on a run, as I was coming from behind the line and I found myself one on one with the keeper. I saw an opening in the right corner and an opportunity to score and tapped it in." Johnson lavishes in the moment of her game winner, "I was excited to get it done. It was rewarding to grind it out all the way to the last minute and get the win."
 
The win improved McNeese to 1-1 overall while the loss dropped ULM to 0-2 on the year. The goal was Havana's first during the regular season, but the freshman also posted two goals of her own in the Cowgirl's preseason exhibition match against Texas Southern earlier this month.

"I was thoroughly impressed with our team's tenacity and willingness to battle for 90 minutes in this heat." Second year head coach Drew Fitzgerald is now 10-11-2 at the front of the helm at McNeese. "Havana getting her first game winner with 36 seconds left will be a memory she'll have forever, and we are hoping it's the first of many."
 
McNeese dominated the pitch for a majority of the match, managing a total 24 shots with nine of those on goal. ULM's defense was able to hold the Cowgirls scoreless until the final minute, but could only get two shots off the entire game, both coming in the first half and both being saved by freshman goalkeeper, Emma Roccaforte.
 
Fitzgerald commented on Roccaforte's ability to show authority in the net. "Emma's first start in goal was solid. She made one exceptional play when called upon and with the help of her defenders and Nikki Schaaf, was able to control her defense the entire match." Roccaforte protected the house for all 90 minutes in her first collegiate start as a Cowgirl.
 
In the second half, it was McNeese who continued to show control, outshooting the Warhawks 14-0. Again, the Cowgirls showed a true team effort with 11 players each getting a boot on the ball. Savannah LaRicci lead the pack with four shots, followed by Mariah Ruelas and Havana Johnson who each had three of their own.


Junior midfielder Nola Prickett showed great tenacity throughout the match, keeping the ball under McNeese control for a majority of the time, playing all but 10 minutes in today's win. "It was a tough battle in the heat but preseason training on the turf in the middle of the day had us ready. I felt we were a bit unlucky to not get another goal from our 24 shots, we definitely have to work on finding the net, but overall happy to get the W."
 
The Cowgirls will return to their home field this Friday and take on the Ragin Cajuns of UL-Lafayette, with a game time of 7PM.