East Carolina University
Coastal Carolina
Pirates Edged By Coastal Carolina, 2-1
September 21, 2008 | Soccer
Sept. 21, 2008
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina soccer team lost at home for the first time this season, dropping a 2-1 result to Coastal Carolina on Sunday afternoon at Bunting Field. The Pirates fall to 5-3-0 on the season while the Chanticleers improve to 4-3-0. The match marked the end of non-conference play for ECU.
Coastal Carolina jumped on top in the 13th minute when, after winning a corner kick, Emily McColl notched her fifth goal of the season when she put back a clear attempt by Pirate keeper Amber Campbell into the right corner of the net. It was the first goal scored by an opposing team at Bunting Field this season. East Carolina responded less than five minutes later. Nicole Moore took a corner from the right side and found senior Madison Keller, who headed the ball just past Chanticleer net minded Amy Haggard and into the right side netting to tie the contest.
Freshman Kimmy Cummings nearly gave the Pirates the lead going into halftime when she found herself one-on-one with Haggard. Her initial shot found its way past Haggard but the keeper recovered, smothering the ball for a goal kick. ECU held a slight lead in shots and fouls in the first interval, accumulating five of each as compared to four each for Coastal Carolina.
Corie Coles had a great chance to put the Chanticleers ahead in the 57th minute, but Campbell watched as her shot sailed just high of the crossbar. Coastal Carolina finally broke through in the 79th minute when Ashleigh Gunning took a pass from Sarah McPartlan, took a few a touches and put the ball away into the right corner of the net.
The Pirates had two great chances to tie the contest in the final 10 minutes as freshman Amanda Malkiewicz blistered a shot that forced Haggard to leap and push the ball over the bar. Then, with 30 seconds left, senior Savanna Russo lifted a beautiful ball into the box that found Keller's head, but the ensuing shot fell harmlessly into Haggard's gloves.
"Coastal Carolina has a solid team," head coach Rob Donnenwirth said. "They did a good job of limiting our play through the midfield and really forced us to beat them over the top of the defense. We had some success but the better team won today."
East Carolina opens Conference USA play this Friday, traveling to Houston, Texas for a showdown with Rice. The match is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Rice Soccer Stadium, also the host of this year's Conference USA Tournament.
