East Carolina University
UNC Greensboro
East Carolina Offense Overwhelms UNCG in 3-0 Victory
September 06, 2015 | Soccer
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Junior striker Lana Spitler scored twice and senior forward Kendall Frey assisted on all three goals, as East Carolina defeated UNC Greensboro, 3-0, in non-conference action Sunday evening at UNCG Soccer Stadium.
The performance marked Spitler's second-career multi-goal game and first since last season when she struck twice in a 2-0 home victory over Temple on Sept. 28. The three assists were a career high for Frey, as the multi-assist game was also the second in her career, the first coming in last year's 2-0 win over Davidson on Sept. 5.
Senior goalkeeper Saundra Baron earned her second shutout of the year and number 16.5 for her career while making a season-high six saves.
"It was a good team win tonight," head coach Rob Donnenwirth said. "We survived some early pressure with some good defending and goalkeeping. All three goals were very-well executed."
East Carolina found itself in a defensive state for most of the first 10 minutes of the match, as UNCG got of three shots during that span, but was able to get some transition offense in the subsequent five minutes. In the 13th minute, Spitler put a shot on goal that was blocked and cleared, before sophomore midfielder Danielle Eule ripped her first shot of the evening into the arms of the opposing goalkeeper in the 15th minute.
The Pirates were able to get into their offense going for an extended period of time in the middle portion of the first half and took advantage in the 26th minute when Frey sent a perfect cross into the Spartans' goal box that found the head of Spitler approximately seven yards out, where she redirected the ball into the top of the net for the first goal of the evening.
The tally snapped a four-game scoreless streak for ECU, its first goal in 416:14 of game time going back to the 80th minute of the 2-0 season-opening victory over George Mason.
East Carolina would end up taking the 1-0 lead into halftime, while UNC Greensboro held a 6-5 advantage in shots and 2-0 edge in corner kick chances, as both goalkeepers made three saves apiece.
The Pirates maintained their aggressive approach to begin the second half, as it took them less than three minutes to push their lead to 2-0. Frey gained control of the ball with her back to the Spartans' goal and made a move around her defender before slipping a shot to the top of the box where Spitler stood wide open and one-timed the pass into the back of net for her second goal of the evening and third of the season.
ECU was not done however, as Frey found a ton of open space in UNCG's midfield and raced up-field in the 62nd minute. She reached the top of the Spartan goal box before dropping off a quick pass to freshman Madeleine Watson, who touched a perfect pass to senior Stephanie Seagrave at the near post where she tapped in the third and final goal of the evening.
On the play, Frey was credited with her third assist of the match - a career high - while Watson earned her first-career point on an assist and Seagrave scored her seventh-career goal and first since Oct. 27, 2013 in a 2-2 tie at Rice.
"Kendall has taken on a new role for us and her performance was huge," Donnenwirth said. "We hope to keep this momentum going into next week."
The Pirates concluded the night with a 14-13 advantage in total shots and 10-6 lead in shots on goal, while the Spartans held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks.
East Carolina will return home Friday, Sept. 11 to host Western Carolina. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., at Johnson Soccer Stadium.
