Pirate Soccer Comes Back For 3-2 Exhibition Win At Campbell

Saturday, August 13

Buies Creek, NC

7:00 P.M.

East Carolina University

Campbell (Exhibition)

Photo by: Rob Goldberg

Pirate Soccer Comes Back For 3-2 Exhibition Win At Campbell

August 13, 2016 | Soccer

Box Score

BOX SCORE (PDF)

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The East Carolina women's soccer team scored three second-half goals, including the game-winner on a header by senior Kelsey Reeves in the 88th minute, to claim a 3-2 victory over Campbell in exhibition play Saturday evening.

Senior and preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection Lana Spitler had three of the Pirates' nine points on the night with a goal and one assist to lead all scorers.

The Pirates and Camels took a conservative approach to the first several minutes of action, before ECU got onto the attack with the first corner kick and shot of the match in the seventh minute. Campbell got two clean looks at the goal in the 10th minute, but both attempts were stopped by redshirt freshman goalkeeper Caroline Jeffers.

East Carolina was able to take two more shots near the halfway point of the first half, but the attempts by senior Autumn Berry and freshman Marianna Shurina sailed high and wide of the net. Just as the Pirates were applying pressure late in the period, the Camels got deep into the ECU defense, as Alexa Genas beat the final defender before Nicole Connolly tapped home the game's first goal with just under five minutes remaining before halftime.

Campbell would take the 1-0 lead into the intermission and held a 6-3 advantage in total shots.

ECU did not let the deficit linger though the break and got out onto the attack with the start of the second half. The Pirates put immense pressure on the Camels' back line by getting off a shot and earning a pair of corner kicks just two minutes in. Campbell was forced into a defensive stance, but it was not enough as junior Annah Lindberg took a pass from senior Autumn Berry and beat opposing goalkeeper Natalya Marcove to tie the match, 1-1, in the 54th minute.

East Carolina did not let up after drawing even, as sophomore Courtney Cash ripped a shot just two minutes later that was turned away by Marcove. Cash gathered the rebound and touched a quick pass to Spitler who buried a shot into the back of the net to put the purple and gold on top, 2-1, in the 55th minute.

The Camels subbed out eight of their 10 field players in an attempt to get fresh legs on the field and recollect themselves after surrendering the second goal, but it made no difference to the Pirates who continued to apply offensive pressure in the form of four corner kicks and a blocked shot in the 68th minute.

ECU was able to put two shots on goal in the 70th minute by junior Rachel Renfrow and the 74th minute by junior Taylor Gaunt, but both tries were saved by Malcove.

Campbell was finally able to break back into the Pirates' final third of the field in the 76th minute with a corner kick and a pair of shots – one that went high over the net and the other saved by redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Drew Williams who subbed into the match five minutes beforehand.

Junior Courtney Taybron took a shot that was smothered by Marcove just two minutes later, but the Camels found an equalizer on an unassisted goal by Kylee Arno in the 85th minute to draw the score even at two.

ECU countered immediately with more offensive pressure, as Renfrow ripped a shot in the 87th minute that was saved, but just 56 seconds later, Spitler lifted a cross into the box that found the head of Reeves who redirected the ball out of Marcove's reach for what proved to be the game-winning goal.

The Pirates outshot the Camels, 12-5, in the second half and 15-11 overall, while holding an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. Jeffers made three saves in net for ECU, while Marcove stopped five shots.

East Carolina will kick off its 2016 regular season at home next Friday, Aug. 19 against William & Mary. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m., start at Johnson Soccer Stadium.