East Carolina University
UAB
Pirates Rally For Tie At UAB, 2-2
October 24, 2008 | Soccer
Oct. 24, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The East Carolina soccer team rallied twice on Friday evening to earn a valuable point on the road as it tied UAB, 2-2 at West Campus Field in Birmingham. The Pirates are now 11-3-3 on the season and 6-0-3 in C-USA while the Blazers move to 6-9-2 overall and 4-3-2 in conference action.
The tie, coupled with a 4-0 win by Memphis over Marshall earlier in the evening, leaves ECU and the Tigers tied atop the league standings. It also ensures that the Pirates will end the season unbeaten on the road in C-USA, a program first.
UAB scored quickly, receiving a strike from Laura McCalla in the eighth minute to put ECU behind for the first time in conference play, a span of eight games. However, the Pirates would equalize 11 minutes later when junior Alexis Foltz scored her team-leading fifth goal in C-USA matches, an unassisted tally that tied the match at 1-1.
The Blazers outshot East Carolina 8-4 in the first half while also committing more fouls, 5-2. Pirate netminder Amber Campbell came up with three saves as opposed to her counterpart's two.
ECU allowed UAB eight consecutive shots to begin the second stanza and the Blazers capitalized on the eighth chance when Tiffini Turpin scored to put her side in front, 2-1. It is the first time that the Pirates have allowed more than one goal in conference play. Just when it looked like East Carolina would be sent home empty-handed, a senior stepped up and gave the Pirates new life. Just six minutes after the Blazers went ahead, Madison Keller took a ball from fellow senior Savanna Russo and buried it into the back of the net, evening the score line at two.
Each squad recorded four shots in the overtime, but none of the chances found their mark as the contest ended at 2-2. UAB sorely out-shot ECU 23-9 while Campbell made a season-high 12 saves.
"This was a hard fought game," head coach Rob Donnenwirth explained. "UAB played with a lot of energy and emotion and we battled hard for the tie. Madison scored a great goal to tie it up and Amber came up with some big saves. "
East Carolina hosts Memphis on Sunday in a pivotal clash that will put one of the sides closer to clinching the C-USA title. The Tigers enter the contest with momentum, having won their last five contests. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Bunting Field.
