Women's Soccer Falls At East Carolina, 2-0

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Fall At East Carolina, 2-0
SMU Returns To Dallas For Final Regular Season Matches Next Week

Oct. 19, 2014

GREENVILLE, N.C. (SMU) – In its final road game of the regular season, the SMU women’s soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to the East Carolina Pirates on Sunday afternoon at Johnson Soccer Stadium.

“I thought we played well today, especially in the first half,” said Head Coach Chris Petrucelli. “We had some chances in the first half with Paige (Jacobs) hitting the crossbar and Kelsey (Gorney) just missing wide.”

SMU (6-11-0, 2-5-0 The American) peppered East Carolina goalkeeper Erika Lenns in the opening half, but the Mustangs could not find the back of the net.

Sophomore Kelsey Gorney had a scoring opportunity in the 20th minute, but her shot missed wide. In the 28th minute, sophomore midfielder Paige Jacobs ripped a shot from 25 yards out that deflected off of the crossbar. Then, in the 42nd minute, freshman Diana Kay Manley, who made her first appearance of the year, fired a shot towards the upper right corner, but Lenns made a diving, one-handed save to prevent a goal.

East Carolina (10-5-1, 4-3-0 The American) tallied five shots in the first half, none of which posed any danger to Mustang goalkeeper Lauryn Bodden, who recorded three saves in the half.

The Pirates would get on the scoreboard early in the second half when Lana Spitler netted her seventh goal of the season in the 51st minute. Spitler intercepted a pass out of the back from Bodden and chipped the ball over the head of the Mustang keeper to put East Carolina up, 1-0.

“We knew going into the game that scoring the first goal of the game would be key,” said Petrucelli. “When they went ahead, 1-0, it forced us to make some changes and be more direct.”

In the waning minutes, the Mustangs put some pressure on the Pirate defense, but they could not find the equalizer. Freshman Malanna Wheat recorded a shot on goal in the 75th minute, but her attempt was saved by Lenns.

The Pirates’ Kendall Frey would extend the East Carolina lead to 2-0 in the 88th minute, when she ran onto a long ball from defender Kelley Johnson and sent a high shot over the head of Bodden. The Pirates would then hold on to pull out the 2-0 victory.

Jacobs led the Mustangs in shots with two, while freshmen Lauren Harrington, Wheat and Manley all recorded shots on goal. In net, Bodden finished the game with five saves, bringing her season total to 34.

“We’re still searching for the right combinations and the right mix,” said Petrucelli. “But, as long as there are games left, we are going to continue to keep going at it.”

The Mustangs wrap up their regular season next week with a pair of home matches. On Thursday, Oct. 23, SMU hosts Tulsa at 7 p.m. CT. Senior Day takes place on Sunday, Oct. 26, when the Mustangs take on Memphis at 1 p.m. CT in their regular season finale. For tickets, visitSMUtickets.com.

[fifty]

Just need to work to get dialed in for the aac tourney now.