East Carolina University
South Carolina
Pirates Fall In Conference Opener To South Carolina, 5-2
October 02, 2005 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 2, 2005
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina men's soccer team fell to South Carolina Sunday afternoon at Bunting Field, 5-2, in the Conference USA opener for both schools.
South Carolina (4-5-0, 1-0-0) got on the board early in the first half when Ayo Akinsete received a header from Ralph Pace, placing a kick from 25 yards out in the sixth minute of play.
ECU (0-7-1, 0-1-0) responded in the 31st minute when Alex Morrow (Pittsboro, N.C.) scored the equalizer on a penalty kick.
In the second half, the Gamecocks wore down the Pirates scoring four goals on 16 shots to take home their first ever C-USA win. Josh Alcala scored off a Mike Sambursky throw in during the 60th minute to break the tie. Seven minutes late Akinsete netted his second goal of the afternoon, the game-winner, off an Alcala cross.
The Pirates closed to within one goal when Matt Kowaleski (Richmond, Va.) netted his third goal of the season. Sophomore Danny Lundquist (Winston-Salem, N.C.) set up the scoring when he found Kowaleski open on the right side of the field from 15 yards out.
South Carolina added goals in the 74th and 87th minute to put the game out of reach. Sambursky and Alacla connected on a series of passes and found Pace open from 23 yards out to make the score 5-2. Ryan Deter netted the Gamecocks last goal with a pooch kick that was placed just outside of the ECU's Chris Hicks (Wendell, N.C.) reach.
The Pirates will be back in action on Friday night when they travel to Birmingham, Ala. To take on UAB. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. (EST).
