East Carolina Returns Home To Host USF

Game 5: USF (2-0-1, 1-0-0) at East Carolina (1-2-1, 1-0-1)
Date	Sunday, March 7
Time	1:00 p.m. (EDT)
Location	Greenville, N.C. (Johnson Stadium)
Coverage	Live Stats \| Live Video
Social Media	Twitter: @ECUsoc Instagram: @ECUSoc Facebook: @ECUwsoccer

GREENVILLE, N.C. – For the first time since Feb. 13, the East Carolina soccer team will be back at home as the Pirates host USF on Sunday afternoon in Johnson Stadium.

"We are excited to be back at Johnson and in front of our fans," said head coach Jason Hamilton. "Being on the road three out of the first four matches has been tough. We have to be prepared to protect our home field. I think that is crucial for having success in our conference."

ECU (1-2-1, 1-0-1 AAC) are coming off a 1-1 tie at Temple to stay unbeaten in league play. Madie Knaggs scored ECU's goal, with Annabelle Abbott getting her first collegiate assist on the score. Knaggs is one of three Pirates with a goal this season, joining Carsen Parker and Morgan Dewey. Dewey leads the team with three points, having also picked up an assist on Parker's game-winning goal against Houston earlier this season. Dewey has been a key piece of ECU's offense due in part to the high number of corners kicks the Pirates have earned. ECU averages 4.75 corner kicks per game, the third highest total in the AAC.

Defensively, the Pirates are allowing just 8.7 shots per game from their opponents, half those going on goal. When opponents do get their shots on frame, freshman goalkeeper Maeve English has done a good job of repelling them. English is second in the AAC in saves, having made 13 stops so far this season.

USF (2-0-1, 1-0-0 AAC) has been led by its defense in the early part of the season. The Bulls are yet to allow a goal and have allowed opponents to take just four shots on goal in three games. Sydney Martinez was named the AAC Goalkeeper of the Week after she made three saves in a 0-0 tie with Florida, completing her third clean sheet of the season. Martinez is the third Bull to earn a weekly award this season. Paula Leblic was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week after she scored a goal and added an assist in a 2-0 win over Temple. Chiara Hahn was named the league's Rookie of the Week after her performance against the Owls as well. Along with Leblic, Vivianne Bessette and Sydny Nasello each have a goal and an assist while Katie Kitching and Sabrina Wagner have each grabbed a goal.

"USF is playing extremely well right now and is probably the favorite to win the conference at this point in the season as good of form as they are in," Hamilton said. "We just need to come out and battle for the entire game. As we are seeing all over the country with crazy results this year, anyone can beat anyone on any given day. Putting together a complete game from start to finish will be key for us. We cannot have any mental lapses or take any plays off that will make it easy for them."

The Pirates are still looking for their first win against USF under Hamilton. The Bulls spoiled ECU's senior day in 2019 with a 3-1 win and beat East Carolina twice in 2018, including ending the Pirates' season in the AAC Championship Semifinals. ECU will be looking to beat USF for the first time since joining the AAC, as the last win in the series came in 2004.

"This will be our toughest test of the spring so far," Hamilton added. "The ladies have had a very good week of training and I think are upset they left points on the table in that last game. Our goal is to get better every day and every week this spring. It has been a slower process than any of us would want it to be, but as expected with as much time off from competition that we had. We have to be grateful for these opportunities to compete each week and not take them for granted as we know any day, we could lose a game due to cancellations.

Kickoff for Sunday's match is scheduled for 1 p.m., inside Johnson Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ECUPirates.com. Fans will be allowed back into Johnson Stadium this weekend, with information on ECU's safety protocols and attendance policies found here.

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Players Mentioned

Annabelle Abbott

Morgan Dewey

Maeve English

Madie Knaggs

Carsen Parker

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