East Carolina University
Charlotte
Seagrave's 110th-Minute Golden Goal Stuns Charlotte, 3-2
September 13, 2015 | Soccer
CHARLOTTE - For the second time in as many games, the East Carolina women's soccer team won on a golden goal in double overtime as redshirt senior Stephanie Seagrave scored with 53 seconds remaining to seal a 3-2 non-conference victory over Charlotte on Sunday afternoon.
The victory came approximately 30 hours after freshman Courtney Cash's golden goal in the 107th minute of Friday's 1-0 triumph over Western Carolina.
"Our team showed a lot of heart and character to win this game," Head Coach Rob Donnenwirth said. "We created a lot of chances and still had to fight back from a 2-1 deficit. We never stopped working."
Juniors Lana Spitler and Jenna Geist tallied three-point performances with one goal and on assist apiece, while senior Kendall Frey added her team-leading fourth assist of the season. Spitler obliterated her career-highs in shots with 12 and shots on goal with eight to lead East Carolina (4-3-1).
The Pirates got on the attack early, earning a corner kick in the 49ers' territory in the first minute of action and setting up the offense on the opposition's end of the field for the early portion of the game. That aggressiveness and pressure paid off in the sixth minute, when junior midfielder Jenna Geist sent a feed ahead to junior striker Lana Spitler who used her speed to get around a couple defenders and place a shot inside the far post to give ECU a quick 1-0 lead.
The score was Spitler's team-high fourth of the season, as the Montoursville, Pa., native now has eight points and three goals in East Carolina's last three matches.
Charlotte (4-4) countered with a flurry of shots in the subsequent five minutes, but none made it near the net due to a handful of blocked attempts by ECU's back line. East Carolina was able to control possession for a majority of the opening 45 minutes, but could not put another tally on the scoreboard before the halftime whistle.
The Pirates outshot the 49ers, 11-7, overall in the first half and put three on goal, while the defense did not allow a shot on net. ECU also held a 4-1 advantage in corner kick chances.
Charlotte went on the attack to start the second half, and in the 53rd minute, drew a foul inside East Carolina's goal box. Leading goal scorer Martha Thomas took the free shot, her third penalty kick of the season, and put it into the net to tie the match, 1-1.
The 49ers continued to pressure the Pirates and struck again just five minutes later when Virginia Lingo took a shot that went off the crossbar, before Thomas headed home the rebound from six yards out to give Charlotte a 2-1 lead.
Spitler and freshman Lindsey Tornabene put shots on goal in the 58th and 65th minutes, respectively, but both attempts were corralled by goalkeeper Annika McHenry.
ECU assembled an equalizer in the 79th minute, as Geist and Spitler used a series of passes and a final give-and-go to get through the 49ers' defense. Spitler sent the final pass to Geist approximately eight yards out, before placing the ball into the back of the net to tie the match, 2-2.
The score was Geist's for her third-career goal and first of the season, capping a career-high three-point performance.
East Carolina remained relentless on the offensive side for the final 10 minutes, but was unable to net a game-winner before the clock struck 90 minutes. The Pirates held a 22-14 overall and 11-3 shots on goal advantage, along with a 6-3 edge in corner kicks at the conclusion of regulation.
The first overtime period elapsed relatively quietly with each club earning a single shot on goal, but the second 10-minute overtime was much different. ECU kept Charlotte in a defensive mindset, firing off three shots (two on goal) in the early portion, before Frey sent a cross into the box that drew McHenry off the goal line. McHenry could not get her hands on the ball, as it landed right at Seagrave's feet, where she kicked a short shot into the back of the net to complete the comeback.
The goal was Seagrave's second of the season and eighth of her career, yet just her first game-winning strike in her 57th-collegiate match. Frey's assist pushed her season total to four, which leads the club.
ECU outshot Charlotte, 28-17, overall and 15-4 in attempts that reached the net. The Pirates owned a 17-10 advantage from the start of the second half to the end of the game, including a 4-0 edge in the second overtime alone. Baron earned her fourth win between the pipes and made two saves, while McHenry took the loss despite her 10-save effort.
East Carolina will return home to host UNC Wilmington next Thursday, Sept. 17. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., at Johnson Soccer Stadium.
