Soccer Concludes Spring Season With Alumni Game
April 29, 2010 | Soccer
April 29, 2010
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina University women’s soccer team concluded its spring season with a 2-1 victory over its alumni Saturday, April 24. The bigger story was that it was the final day that games were played on Bunting Field, as construction for the new soccer facility began Sunday.
“We knew this was going to be the last game our alumni would get to play on Bunting Field, but only found out a week ago it would be the last game played on Bunting Field altogether,” head coach Rob Donnenwirth said. “We had planned to play one more season at Bunting, but construction was pushed up and we will be playing on a new field in 2010.”
Forty-two alumni returned for Saturday’s final game.
“Assistant coach Shannon Lewis let all of our alumni know this was going to be their last chance to play on Bunting Field,” said Donnenwirth. “Our alumni didn’t want to miss this opportunity and it became even more special to them that this was the last day of games all together. I think we had such a great response because this is where some of these players’ best memories from their soccer careers took place.”
The Pirates started play at Bunting Field in 1996. East Carolina’s track and field program had been using Bunting Field since 1977, when the facility opened. The Pirate soccer program enjoyed an 81-30-12 record on Bunting Field. No win was more important than a 3-2 victory over Marshall October 31, 2008, which earned East Carolina its first Conference USA Regular Season Championship.
“We are excited for our new facility, but there were a lot of great games played on Bunting Field,” Donnenwirth stated. “Watching our current team and alumni play and how they all wanted pictures taken at the Bunting Field sign makes you reflect on the great memories here.”
Alumnae in attendance were: Jami Dickerson, Tara Shaw, Rachel Hils, Tracey FitzGerald, Sarah Kirkley, Penny Perrott, Kat Norris, Jen Moore, Kate Lowe, Megan Davis, Melissa Penney, Amanda Duffy, Meghan McCallion, Angela Baroni, Sarah Stoltz, Jen Reiley, Kelly Karras, Shana Woodward, Stacy Gause, Kim Sandhoff, Christy Bernabe, Amy Horton, Dana Durbin, Lindsi Troxler, Megan Schwanke, Sherri Moore, Madison Keller, Anastasia Nikas, Nicole Moore, Kelley Hennessy, Blair Heffner, Patty Pierce, Caylin Sandke, Alexis Foltz, Amber Campbell, Jen Kurowicki, Ashley Stopa, Katie Moran, Mary Puckett and Rachelle Cabeceiras.
Bunting Field was named after ECU Alumnus Michael Bunting for his generous donation to Pirate Athletics for the facility.
