Oct. 3, 2009

Soccer Gameday Central

GREENVILLE, N.C. - After defeating Southern Miss 3-1 Friday, the East Carolina soccer team finishes this weekend's Conference USA action hosting No. 21 UCF Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Pirates have never recorded a win against the Knights, going 0-4-2. The two ties occurred in last season’s 1-1 draw in Orlando and a 0-0 tie in 2000 at the Florida State Tournament before either program was a Conference USA member.

Last season, Alexis Foltz scored at the 66:02 mark, but Lauren Halbert scored the equalizer with just 1:01 remaining in the contest. The goal by Foltz was the first ECU had scored against UCF since the Oct. 13, 2006, contest that the Pirates lost 2-1.

After Sunday's game, East Carolina returns to action next weeked on the road for the first time in league play. The Pirates travel to Tulsa and take on the Golden Hurricane at 8 p.m. Friday before playing at SMU Sunday at 3 p.m.

Pieces of Eight
Facts to Know Before Gametime ...

Set Piece Success ...
Through the first seven games of the season, East Carolina received 39 corner kicks but did not score goals on any of those opportunities. In the past four games, the Pirates have collected 15 corner kicks and scored two game-winning goals.

ECU used corner kick passes from sophomore Amanda Malkiewicz to head home the game-winners against UNC Wilmington (Sept. 20) and Rice (Sept. 25).

Letting It Slip Away ...
Last Sunday against Houston, East Carolina surrendered two goals within the final 10 minutes of the contest to fall to the Cougars for the first time in program history.

Prior to the game, the Pirates had outscored their opponents 3-0 in the final 20 minutes of regulation this season.

Fire Away ...
This season, the Pirates have averaged 13.64 shots per game, the fifth-highest mark in Conference USA. A year ago, ECU averaged just 9.82 shots per contest, the fewest in the league.

The increased shot attempts have also resulted in more scoring. Through 11 games last season, East Carolina had 16 goals; this season, the Pirates have collected 21.

Two Is The Magic Number ...
Since the start of the 2006 season, ECU has posted a 30-0-3 record when scoring two or more goals. The only ties occurred in a 2-2 game Sept. 11 at N.C. State earlier this season and twice last year in a 2-2 draw at UAB on Oct. 24 and the following game’s 3-3 deadlock at home against regular-season cochampion Memphis on Oct. 26.

Tough To Beat In OT ...
Since the start of the 2007 season, the Pirates have gone 6-1-10 in games that have stretched into overtime or double-overtime. The only loss occurred at UCF on Oct. 7, 2007, when Yvonne George scored with 58 seconds remaining in the second OT. This season, ECU is 1-0-2 when going extra time after posting a 4-0-4 mark in overtime contests last year.

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