Pirates Top Cincinnati To Clinch Playoff Berth

Friday, October 26

Greenville, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

8-5-2, 3-4-0AAC

Cincinnati

6-7-1, 2-2-1AAC

Cincinnati

ECU

Photo by: Rob Goldberg

October 26, 2018 | Soccer

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GREENVILLE, N.C. – On Senior Night in Johnson Stadium, the ECU women's soccer team defeated Cincinnati 1-0 on Friday to clinch a spot in the 2018 AAC Soccer Championship.

"We couldn't be more proud of the ladies in what they have achieved for the program so far this year," said head coach Jason Hamilton. "This game was a tough one due to the conditions, but we are proud of how hard they battled."

After a pregame ceremony to honor the four Pirate seniors, both teams came out looking to score, even with the rain pouring down. The first real chance fell to ECU in the ninth minute, with Chentay Warnes' shot being blocked and then Grace Doran knocking the rebound over the Cincinnati crossbar. Cincinnati (6-9-3, 1-6-2) answered by forcing ECU goalkeeper Melanie Stiles into making three saves over a ten minute span.

The breakthrough came in the 31st minute. ECU (9-5-2, 4-4-0 AAC) sent in a cross from the right wing towards the back post. Kim Sanford positioned herself underneath the cross and used her first touch to square a pass back across the Cincinnati box. Cashlin Copley surged forward towards Sanford's pass and she was able to squeeze a one-time shot between the goalpost and the diving Cincinnati goalkeeper.

With ECU continuing to hold the narrow 1-0 lead after the halftime break, both teams continued to press forward. In total, the teams took 21 shots and six corner kicks in the second half. Luckily for ECU, Stiles was able to turn away the Bearcat offense again and again to preserve the lead. The Pirates snuffed any final Cincinnati threat by controlling the ball deep in the Bearcat end until the clock struck zero.

"Getting to the conference tournament this season was the goal on day one and sending the senior class out with the best year they have ever had was something I preached to the team every day to achieve," Hamilton said.

ECU finished with a 20-15 edge in shots and a 6-5 advantage in corner kicks. Stiles finished with a season-best nine saves to record her fifth shutout of the season.

The Pirates clinch a spot in the conference tournament for the first time since 2015. With one game remaining in the season, ECU is currently fifth in the conference standings, but can enter the postseason as the No. 4 seed with a win on Sunday. It will be the 17th time ECU has played in the conference tournament, a tally which includes five CAA tournaments, nine Conference USA tournaments and now, three American Conference tournaments.

"The team is excited with all their accomplishments, but they are the first ones to say they aren't done yet," Hamilton added. "They want to come away with a win on Sunday to finish fourth and make a run in the conference tournament."

ECU will finish the regular season with a match against UConn. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., in Johnson Stadium