UNCG 2, UNCW 0
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Junior Ashley Stokes scored twice for the first time in her career to lift UNCG’s women’s soccer team to a 2-0 victory over in-state foe UNCW on Monday afternoon at the ECU Soccer Stadium.
UNCG improved to 3-1 on the season, while the Seahawks fell to 0-4 on the year.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jamie Simmons finished with three saves, earning her third shutout of the season. Simmons has 21 saves and has allowed just one goal in 390:50 played this season.
In the 50th minute, senior Lauren Lover crossed a ball into the box, where Stokes just missed a hat trick after UNCW keeper Liisa Rahkola made a great kick save.
In the first half, UNCG took an early lead after Stokes found the right corner of the net in the sixth minute. Stokes corralled the ball inside the box and put home her first goal of the season.
In the 28th minute, freshman Georgia Brown found space and broke away from the defense before setting up Stokes for her second goal of the game. Brown picks up her second assist of the season.
Sophomore Ashley Eddleman earned her first collegiate start on defense, playing a full 90 minutes.
UNCG next heads down the road to face High Point on Friday at 7 p.m. at Vert Stadium.
East Carolina 2, Western Carolina 1 (2OT)
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Western Carolina women’s soccer team dropped its first game of the season, 2-1 at East Carolina University in double overtime Monday at ECU Soccer Stadium. The game was rescheduled from Sunday when the contest was called due to inclement weather.
Just five minutes into the second overtime, the Pirates (2-1-1) snapped a 1-1 tie to take the game when Lexi Miller sent it past Catamount freshman goalkeeper Carly Tinstman. It was Tinstman’s first decision of the year as she falls to 0-1.
Western Carolina (3-1) posted the first score of the game off the foot of sophomore forward Kelly Pannell at the 22:05 mark of the first half. It was Pannell’s third shot in a five-minute span, with the third one ringing true for the score. It was Pannell’s first goal of the year and of her career. She also has a pair of assists this season.
The Catamounts held the Pirates scoreless for the first-50 plus minutes of the game, taking a 1-0 lead into halftime. Junior goalkeeper Jenny Lauer started the game, as has been the norm for the past three games, as well, and was replaced by Tinstman to start the second half.
At the 55:27 mark, East Carolina knotted the game at 1. Caitlin Hite benefitted from a free kick, tying the game.
The contest was truly a defensive showdown as both teams combined for 22 shots and just a combined seven shots goal. Western Carolina had 11 shots, three on goal, while ECU also had 11 shots and four shots on goal.
Western Carolina will return to action on Sept. 8, hosting Charlotte at 2 p.m. at the Catamount Athletic Complex.