East Carolina University
N.C. State
Gratz and Pirates Top Wolfpack, 1-0
September 10, 2010 | Soccer
Sept. 10, 2010
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Coach Donnenwirth's Post-Game Comments via All-Access
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Chrissy Gratz netted her third game-winning goal of the season and Christiane Cordero logged a career-best 11 saves in her first career shut-out as East Carolina topped in-state rival N.C. State 1-0 Friday night at the North Campus Recreation Complex in front of a season-high 1,183 fans. With the win, ECU improves to 3-1-1 all-time against N.C. State.
The Pirates' (4-2-0) defense was stellar on the night fending off 19 shots by the Wolfpack (4-3-0), 11 in the second half, to walk away with their first shut-out of the season.
"This was an exciting game and we played solid on the backend," said head coach Rob Donnenwirth. "We battled the whole game and that's kind of what we are known for. They [N.C. State] got a lot of balls in the box and we knew that was coming and they have some dangerous players, especially Kara Blosser in the box. But Hali Oughton and Amanda Broz cleared a lot of balls back there and were amazing tonight."
Gratz, who scored the game-winning goal last week at ODU, received a pass in the box from Amanda Malkiewicz and took a shot from 5 yards outs that went over N.C. State goalkeeper Kim Kern's head in the 62nd minute. For Malkiewicz it was her second assist on a game-winning goal this week - previous was Monday, Sept. 6 against Niagara (2-1/OT).
The Wolfpack had five chances for the equalizer in the final 17 minutes with two shots on goal, but Cordero was able to record the save. Cordero stopped a flurry of shots in the match, lowering her goals against average to 1.36 on the season, while pushing her record in goal to 4-2-0.
Kern logged just two saves on the night in 90 minutes of action in the net.
Blosser and Meagan Propper each took four shots, three on goal to lead the Wolfpack, while Gratz and Kimmy Cummings each fired three shots, one on goal.
N.C. State outshot ECU 19-11 in the match and held an 11-0 corner kick advantage.
ECU will hit the road for its next four games traveling first to former Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) foe UNC Wilmington on Thursday, Sept. 16 and then William & Mary on Sept. 19 before opening Conference USA play against UCF and Southern Miss.
