East Carolina University
Houston
Frey's Fourth Goal Propels ECU Over Houston, 1-0
October 16, 2014 | Soccer
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Sophomore striker Kendall Frey scored her fourth goal of the season in the 16th minute to push the East Carolina women's soccer team to a 1-0 American Athletic Conference victory over Houston Thursday night at Johnson Soccer Stadium.
The shutout was ECU's 10th of the season, tying the 2012 team for the second most in a single season in program history. Only the 2007 team had more with 11.
"Any win is a good win, but we can do things better," head coach Rob Donnenwirth said. "I feel like we were getting into our attack and then make the wrong decision on who to pass to or we would hold it too long. If we can get better with that, we're going to be very good."
Twelve minutes in, the Pirates executed a flawless give-and-go along the right side deep in the Cougars' territory that led to a cross by senior defender Kelly Miller to Frey, who one-touched Miller's service into the left corner of the net, but she was ruled offside and the goal was retracted.
Just four minutes later, Frey got another chance at the top of Houston's (1-7-5, 0-5-1 American) goal box after a pass from sophomore defender Autumn Berry, and did not squander the opportunity, as she dribbled to her right before hitting a shot across her body and to the right of a diving goalkeeper to give ECU a 1-0 lead.
The goal was Frey's fourth of the season and first since Sept. 21 in a 1-0 victory over Campbell. Berry's assist was her second of the year and fourth of her career.
East Carolina (9-5-1, 3-3-0 American) took the one goal advantage into halftime, where both sides were tied with three shots apiece. The Cougars held a 3-0 edge in corner kick chances, but were unable to execute on any of the opportunities.
While ECU kept Houston at bay for the duration of the first half, the Cougars came out in the second period with an aggressive press forward in an attempt to even the score. They went on to outshoot East Carolina, 6-1, over the final 45 minutes and 4-0 in shots on goal, but senior goalkeeper Erika Lenns made four excellent saves to keep the Pirates ahead and earn her fourth shutout of the season.
"She's been awesome," Donnenwirth said of Lenns. "When you really look at it, someone was ahead of her and she never stopped working hard. Some people start to feel sorry for themselves, but she never did, and when her moment came she was ready to go. She's been fantastic for us."
The Cougars outshot ECU, 9-4, on the night and owned a 6-4 lead in corner kick chances. Alexis Weaver led Houston with two shots on the night and goalkeeper Jordan Brown made one stop.
East Carolina will host its final home game of the season Sunday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m., against SMU. It will be Senior Day and a ceremony honoring this year's senior class will be held at the conclusion of the match.
