Lady Pirates Post Second Straight Shut Out
September 05, 2004 | Soccer
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Junior Tracy FitzGerald and freshman Patty Pierce recorded their first collegiate goals as they led the Pirates (2-1-0) to their second straight shutout on the season in a 2-0 win over Saint Francis (0-3-0) Sunday afternoon at Bunting Field.
"It was almost like a carbon copy of Friday's game in many ways," said ECU head coach Rob Donnenwirth. "I give Saint Francis credit, they were tough and I thought they ran out of steam a little bit at the end. "We have to do a better job scoring goals. We've had two games in which we've had a lot of chances."
The Pirates, who out shot the Red Flash 13-1, got on the board midway through the first period when FitzGerald followed an Allison Howell blocked shot for the game winner. Junior Meghan McCallion found Howell just outside the box where she was able to take a shot, that was blocked by Saint Francis' keeper Melanie Stockman. FitzGerald was positioned to Howell's left and was able to put the rebound in the back of the net.
In the second period, ECU was able to get an insurance goal on a freshman connection of Lindsey DiLuzio and Patty Pierce. DiLuzio placed one of 10 Pirate corner kicks 20 feet outside the goal box and Pierce was able to place the ball over Stockman's head to secure the Pirates second win of the season.
Defensively, the Pirates allowed one shot on goal and red-shirt sophomore keeper Lauren Church was able to record her third career shutout.
"Its good we got the win and I'm happy that we're getting shutouts. I have to give a lot of credit to our backs who had a much better second half today, and one of them was rewarded with a goal on a corner kick. We just need to keep improving each week."
ECU will be back in action on Thursday, Sept. 9 when they travel to Greenville, S.C. to participate in the Furman Tournament. The Pirates first match will be against nationally ranked Clemson at 5 p.m.
