ECU Tries To Bounce Back At High Point

Match 4: East Carolina (1-2-0) at High Point (0-2-1)
Date	Sunday, August 29
Time	1 p.m. (EDT)
Location	High Point, N.C. (Vert Stadium)
Coverage	Live Stats \| Live Video \| ECU Match Notes
Social Media	Twitter: @ECUsoc Instagram: @ECUSoc Facebook: @ECUwsoccer

GREENVILLE, N.C. – For the second time in the young season, the East Carolina soccer team will try to bounce back from a loss as the Pirates head to High Point for a Sunday matinee.

"Sunday will be a very challenging game against a very tough opponent, but a great opportunity for us," said Head Soccer Coach Jason Hamilton. "We have to be a team in conference play that can go on the road and get results."

While the scoreboard might not show it, East Carolina (1-2-0) showed encouraging signs in a 3-1 loss to No. 10 South Carolina on Thursday. After a shaky first half, the Pirates picked up the offensive intensity in the second 45 minutes, taking nine shots against the ranked Gamecocks and scoring a goal through a nifty long-range finish from Sierra Lowery. The game gained valuable experience for four freshmen who all got their first starts against a ranked opponent while seven others played against a ranked team for the first time. Lowery also continued her great start to the season, adding her first career goal after tallying her first collegiate assist in the 4-0 win over VMI. Samantha Moxie is the only other Pirate with a goal and an assist this season, both coming against VMI.

On the defensive end, Maeve English showed why she is one of the best goalkeepers in the AAC. The Greenville, N.C., native had the best outing of her sophomore season, making a career-high nine saves, including a few from point blank range. Addison Salz, Abby Sowa and Kim Sanford have provided the spine of the ECU backline. Salz has the most minutes of any outfield player for the Pirates, going the distance against both Old Dominion and South Carolina while playing the entire second half against VMI. Sowa has played at least 58 minutes in all three games, including playing all 90 against VMI. With the increased depth this season for East Carolina, Sanford has been able to rest more than in the past, but she has already racked up 212 minutes this season, ranking fourth on the team.

"There are a lot of things that we can use as excuses going into the game such as the heat, playing on turf, the second game of the weekend," Hamilton said. "Or we can use it to help create the mentality we need to help us in AAC play."

High Point (0-2-1) is still looking for its first win of the season after falling to future ECU opponent UNCW 2-1 in the Panthers' home opener. High Point has been productive in creating chances, taking 39 shots and 14 corner kicks across its three games, but the Panthers' final product has been lacking, having scored just one goal so far. High Point has missed the presence of Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Sam Gerhart who has played in just one game this season. Skyler Prillaman has the only goal of the season for the Panthers and leads High Point with six shots on goals. In the goal, Morgan Hairston has started all three matches and has made 14 saves.

"Their record definitely does not reflect the team that they are and they will be hungry to get a win," Hamilton added. "This is a team with a lot of experience and coming off a couple of great seasons."

East Carolina has dominated the all-time series between the two schools, going 5-1-0 against High Point, but the two teams have not played since 2013. The last time the two programs met, High Point took a 1-0 double overtime victory. It was just the second time East Carolina had traveled to High Point. High Point is the second of three Big South opponents on East Carolina's schedule this season, as the Pirates beat Longwood 2-0 in an exhibition match and will take on Campbell later in the year. East Carolina is 26-10-1 all-time against the current Big South teams, with 22 of those 25 victories coming against Radford, Campbell and High Point.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., on Sunday afternoon in High Point's Vert Stadium. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ and fans can follow the live stats here.

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Players Mentioned

Maeve English

Sierra Lowery

Samantha Moxie

Addison Salz

Kim Sanford

Abby Sowa

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