Spitler's Five Points Lead East Carolina Past Charlotte, 3-2

Sunday, September 11

Greenville, N.C.

2:00 P.M.

East Carolina University

3-5

Charlotte

4-4

Charlotte

East Carolina

Spitler's Five Points Lead East Carolina Past Charlotte, 3-2

September 11, 2016 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Senior striker Lana Spitler scored the game-winning goal in the 81st minute as part of a career-high five points to lead the East Carolina women's soccer team to a 3-2 non-conference home victory Sunday afternoon at Johnson Stadium.

Spitler finished her career day with two goals and one assist in her second multi-goal game of the season, while putting four of her five shots on goal. Sophomore striker Courtney Cash added her fourth goal of the season, while senior left backer Autumn Berry tallied two assists.

East Carolina (3-5) won its first home match of the season and snapped a three-game skid by outshooting Charlotte (4-4), 15-8, overall and 8-4 in attempts on goal, despite the 49ers owning a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.

THE GOALS
11th Minute: The Pirates put earlier pressure on Charlotte's back line, as Cash used some fancy footwork and speed to get around her final defender inside the box. Before she could get off a shot near the far goal post, she was pulled down from behind by the defender and awarded a penalty kick. Spitler took the free shot and buried it into the left corner for her fifth goal of the season and gave her team an early 1-0 lead.

27th Minute: Cross, ECU remained on the attack just after the midway point of the first half, when Berry made a run with possession down the far sideline. Approximately 20 yards out, she sent a cross into the center of the field, where Spitler headed the ball and collided with her defender, but Cash was left all alone to collect the loose ball at the 18-yard line and placed a perfect shot to the left of the goalkeeper and into the back of the net to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead.

50th Minute: The 49ers showed no signs of defeat to start the second half, earning a corner kick within the first five minutes of the period. A cross by Sophie Sipprell left a loose ball to be juggled between players just feet away from the goal line when Julia Grainda got her left knee onto the ball and directed it into left corner to cut the visitors' deficit in half, 2-1.

60th Minute: Just 10 minutes after its first score, Charlotte continued to keep East Carolina on its toes in the defensive half of the field, earning another corner kick from the near side. Riley Orr took the cross, which found the head of a wide open Mary Manser who redirected the ball to her left and out of goalkeeper Caroline Jeffers' reach to tie the match at two-all.

81st Minute: With the pace of the game picking up and regulation time winding down, the Pirates picked up the pace with under 10 minutes remaining and earned a corner kick of their own on the far side. Berry sent a perfect cross to the far post where Spitler was waiting to head in the go-ahead goal - her sixth of the season.

HEAD COACH ROB DONNENWIRTH QUOTE
"I think we started off a little slow in the first five minutes, but once we got that first (scoring) chance, I thought our forwards were pretty dynamic. (Courtney) Cash caused them all sorts of problems and created that penalty kick for us. We gave up two set-piece goals, but I'm really happy we have a full week to work on it because it's something that's a big problem for us right now. This was also a typical Sunday game, where I thought you could still see the remnants of Thursday coming into this game."

PIRATE NOTES
-Spitler's penalty kick resulted in the 20th goal of her career.
-Spitler's 81st-minute goal was the 21st of her career, tying Kendall Frey (2012-15) for the fifth most in program history.
-Spitler now has four-career multi-goal games, two of which have come this season.
-Berry's two assists were a career-high and give her five points on the year.
-Cash has now registered multiple points in five of ECU's last six contests.

UP NEXT
East Carolina will take a seven-day break before hosting UNC Greensboro next Sunday, Sept. 18. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m., at Johnson Stadium.