Mean Green Take Down ULM in Physical Battle

Thursday, August 20

Denton, TX

7 PM

University of North Texas

1-1-0, 0-0-0

ULM

1-1-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
ULM	0	0	0
North Texas	0	1	1

Photo by: Cody Grubbs / Mean Green Sports

8/20/2026 10:09:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

DENTON — Sophomore forward Payton Annis knew just what to do when she ran up on a free ball with a lot green grass, a couple of defenders and the opposing goal in front of her.

It's simply how she's wired.

Annis made a run up the middle of the field at Norma Knobel Hunt Stadium on Thursday night and fired a left-footed shot at ULM goalkeeper Jen Handy, who stopped the shot but couldn't corral it, and junior forward Claire Niedermeier was there to pick up the pieces and put the ball in the back of the net in the 61st minute to give UNT a 1-0 win and avenge a 1-0 loss against the defending Sun Belt champions in Monroe last year.

"I just saw goal and went for the goal," Annis said. "I don't really have much of a thought process there. I just went for the goal."

It was two of 20 UNT shots (seven on goal) on the night, which doubled the Warhawks' shot total, but Niedermeier made it count as the lone goal despite several other great chances for the Mean Green, including another Annis shot as time expired that was saved by a diving Handy. Annis led the way with five shots on the night, including three on target, and had the assist.

"We always seem to make it hard on ourselves due to a lack of finishing, but at the end of the day, we'll take the win and move on," said head coach John Hedlund. "Give Monroe credit —they made it very tough on us all night and have several very talented international players throughout their lineup."

The match was a physical battle that featured eight yellow cards – four on each team, but the Mean Green (1-1-0) stood firm and fought off an equally physical team to leave with the victory.

Fifth-year goalkeeper Sarah Margaret Seabrook, who made her second start of the season and of her college career, posted her first clean sheet with four saves and several other big plays when heavy traffic was in the box.

The Mean Green will hit the road for a match on Sunday to Lake Charles, Louisiana, to face McNeese State and former UNT player and assistant coach Alexsis Cable, who is in her first season as the Cowgirls' head coach. That match is set for 1 p.m.