East Carolina University
SMU (C-USA Tournament)
Lowe's Sudden Death Penalty Kick Lifts Pirates Past SMU
November 02, 2005 | Soccer
Nov. 2, 2005
Box Score l ECU-SMU Box Score (PDF)
HOUSTON, Texas - Seventh-seeded East Carolina pulled off the first upset of the 2005 Conference USA Women's Soccer Championship defeating second-seeded SMU on penalty kicks in the fourth overtime.
The Pirates (8-11-1, 4-5-0) and Mustangs (14-4-2, 8-1-0) were scoreless through 110 minutes of action and even on penalty kicks through the first shootout at four apiece, but senior Kate Lowe converted ECU's first attempt in the fourth extra period, while SMU's Olivia O'Rear sent her attempt wide securing the upset victory for the lower seed.
It marked just the fourth time in tournament history that a match went scoreless through double-overtime and ironically followed a 5-4 victory by No. 4 UTEP in the previous game, which was the highest-scoring contest in C-USA championship history.
In the first half, SMU held an 8-6 advantage on shots and forced East Carolina goalkeeper Amber Campbell to make five saves. The Mustangs provided even more pressure in the second half, holding an 8-3 advantage on shots, but could still not get anything past Campbell. Forward Allison Howell had the only shot on goal for the Pirates and it was saved by SMU's Ashley Gunter in the first half.
ECU garnered its first corner kick of the game with under a minute to play in regulation, but the Pirates deflected the ball out of bounds for an SMU goal kick.
SMU kept attacking in the overtime periods, holding a 4-2 edge in shots and 3-0 edge on corner kicks, but could still not muster a goal. In the first shootout, each team converted 4-of-5 attempts with both goalkeepers making diving saves to their left on the second attempts.
The fourth overtime went to sudden death penalty kicks where Lowe was the hero for the Pirates sending her shot inside the right post. The match concluded with O'Rear's miss advancing ECU to the semifinals for the first time since the 2002 championship.
"This was an incredible win for us tonight," said head coach Rob Donnenwirth. "I thought we played with them step-for-step during the regulation period and during the overtime periods we did everything we could to just hang on. Amber Campbell came up big for us in goal tonight. I'm excited about this win and very proud of the way our team played."
The Pirates will face the winner of No. 3/No. 6 UAB at 7:30 p.m. in Friday's second semifinal match. No. 1 UCF faces No. 4 UTEP in the Friday's first seminal at 5 p.m.
