East Carolina University
South Carolina
Pirates Fall At South Carolina, 1-0
August 28, 2008 | Soccer
Aug. 28, 2008
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The East Carolina soccer team suffered defeat for the first time this season Thursday night as it ended up on the negative side of a 1-0 result with South Carolina inside Stone Stadium. The Pirates move to 2-1-0 on the season while the Gamecocks improve to 1-0-1.
South Carolina put two quick shots on goal in the first four minutes but both attempts were off target. Continuing their offensive attack, the Gamecocks took the ball into the box in the 42nd minute and forced a handball foul by junior Kelley Hennessy. South Carolina's Samantha Diaz-Matosa was awarded a penalty shot, which she buried to give the home team a 1-0 advantage.
The Gamecocks tallied nine shots in the stanza as compared to one for ECU, forcing senior Amber Campbell to make five saves.
Picking up where it left off at halftime, South Carolina continued to pepper the Pirate net but Campbell denied each chance. However, East Carolina could only muster two shots in the last 15 minutes of the contest. With 2:50 left in the contest, senior Blair Heffner recorded the visitors' only shot on goal, which Gamecock keeper Mollie Patton turned aside.
South Carolina finished the game with a 15-3 edge in shots and a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks. The Gamecocks were also whistled four times for offside violations.
"Today we defended poorly as a group and did not compete the way I know we can," head coach Rob Donnenwirth explained. "The only positive was we finished strong and created a few chances in the end."
The Pirates have the next week off before returning to the pitch against in-state rival UNC Wilmington on Friday, Sept. 5. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. start at the UNCW Soccer Stadium.
