Gameday: ECU Finishes Nonconference Slate At UNCG

Game 9: ECU (3-4-1) at UNCG (2-5-1)
Date	Sunday, September 22
Time	7:00 p.m. (EDT)
Location	Greensboro, N.C. (UNCG Soccer Stadium)
Coverage	Live Stats
Social Media	Twitter: @ECUwsoccer Instagram: @ECUwsoccer Facebook: @ECUwsoccer

GREENVILLE, N.C. – With just one game remaining on the nonconference schedule, the ECU soccer team will try to head into conference play on a high note as the Pirates play UNCG on Sunday night.

"We are looking forward to this last nonconference game leading us into AAC play next week," said head coach Jason Hamilton. "UNCG are playing well the last couple of games so it will be a good match to help us get ready."

ECU (3-4-1) is still looking for the first home win of the season after the Pirates fell to visiting NC State 5-2 on Wednesday night. ECU fell behind the Wolfpack 3-0 after just 16 minutes and could not climb out of the hole despite goals from Jenna Dages and Madie Knaggs. The ECU offense has been all hands on deck this season, as Dages is one of four Pirates with two goals while nine ECU players have bagged at least one goal. Melanie Stiles has started all eight games in goal for the Pirates and is third in the AAC with 30 saves so far.

"We have to take everything we have talked about from the nonconference matches so far and put together a performance worthy of conference play," Hamilton said.

UNCG (2-5-1) is on a two-match winning streak after starting the year with a 0-5-1 record. The Spartans demolished Gardner-Webb 6-0 on the road before a goal by Gabi Santora in the 88th minute clinched a 4-3 home victory over Elon. Santora and Cienna Rideout both lead UNCG with six points on two goals and two assists. Nicole Souply and Isabelle Blomdahl each have five points on two goals and one helper. In goal, Aiyanah Tyler-Cooper and Abby Buchholz has split the starts, with Tyler-Cooper making 21 saves while Buchholz has 13 stops.

ECU holds a slim 3-2-0 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools. Sunday's match will be the first meeting since the 2016 campaign. The Pirates have won three straight against the Spartans, winning in 2016 (1-0), 2015 (3-0), and 2014 (1-0) while UNCG beat ECU in 2013 (1-0) and 2010 (2-0). In three games at UNCG Soccer Stadium, ECU is 2-1.

"I am excited to see how we come out knowing where we are at in the season," Hamilton added. "Everything ramps up as conference play begins and this is one last opportunity to fine tune things."

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., on Sunday night inside UNCG Soccer Stadium. Fans can either stream the match on ESPN3 or follow the live stats here.

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Players Mentioned

Jenna Dages

Madie Knaggs

Melanie Stiles

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