East Carolina University
UCF
No. 21 UCF Blanks Pirates, 2-0
October 04, 2009 | Soccer
Oct. 4, 2009
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GREENVILLE, N.C. – The UCF soccer team used second-half goals by Yvonne George and Nicolette Radovcic to defeat East Carolina 2-0 Sunday afternoon at Bunting Field. East Carolina freshman goalkeeper Berit Hansen made a career-high eight saves, but allowed the two late scores.
The victory by the 21st-ranked Knights (8-3-1, 3-1-0 C-USA) keeps them undefeated in series history against the Pirates (7-3-2, 2-2-0 C-USA) at 5-0-2.
“UCF is a very good team,” head coach Rob Donnenwirth said. “We played with them, though, and there are lots of positives we can take from that.”
In the first half, UCF fired six shots, all on goal, but did not score. ECU took two shots, with the lone shot on goal being by junior Amanda Broz.
The Knights' Amanda Martorana had the best look in the period when she took a shot from the right side of the goal, but Hansen made the save. Broz' shot on goal came after a Pirate throw-in. She headed the ball toward the net but UCF goalkeeper Aline Reis made the save.
“I’m very happy with our effort today,” Donnenwirth added. “Our backs played well and very rarely let UCF get behind us. That was a big problem for us against Houston last week.”
To begin the second half, UCF took two quick shots by George and Courtney Whidden but Hansen made both saves.
East Carolina had its second shot on goal of the contest when freshman Chrissy Gratz fired from the left side of the goal at 55:21.
George scored UCF’s game-winning goal at 59:37 off an assist from Whidden. George took her shot from the left side of the goal and Hansen appeared to make the save, but the ball slipped through her hands and rolled into the back of the net.
The Knights took three more shots, none on goal, before Broz nearly tied the game. Broz took a shot at 77:15 from around 30 yards away and the ball hit high off the left goalpost and went wide. The Pirates got two consecutive corner kicks after the Broz miss but could not manage another shot.
East Carolina’s last shot of the game was by freshman Rachel Wechsler at 78:49. UCF responded at 79:33 when Radovcic scored. She received a pass from Whidden and was one-on-one with Hansen and found the back of the net. Whidden finished the game with assists on both goals. George was also credited with an assist on the play.
The Pirates resume action next weekend, going on the road for the first time in league play. East Carolina travels to Tulsa to take on the Golden Hurricane at 8 p.m. Friday before playing at SMU Sunday at 3 p.m.
