FLORENCE, SC –  Senior forward Leah Bagonis scored a first-half goal and assisted on a second-half tally to lead East Carolina University to a 2-0 non-conference win over Francis Marion University, Sunday afternoon (Sept. 18) in women’s soccer action.

Francis Marion drops to 3-6-1 with its third consecutive narrow defeat.  The Patriots have allowed only four goals over those three losses, but unfortunately the FMU offense has not been able to find the back of the net.

ECU (5-1-1) outshot the Patriots on Sunday 16-2 and led 7-4 in corner kicks.

The Pirates took a 1-0 lead at the 6:26 mark.  Following a corner kick by Kimmy Cummings, ECU’s Caty Butler connected on a header that rebounded off the crossbar.  The ball went to the feet of Bagonis who knocked in a five-yard shot.

Francis Marion’s best scoring opportunity came in the 74th minute.  Sophomore forward Yasmin Bunter’s corner kick began a 30-second sequence where ECU was unable to clear the ball out of the 18-yard box, but although possessing the ball, Francis Marion was unable to get off a shot.

The margin grew to 2-0 in the 83rd minute as FMU scrambled to tie the score.  Bagonis and Rachel Wechsler assisted on a 12-yard scoring shot by Butler.

Francis Marion senior goalkeeper Lauren Vetock recorded six saves.  ECU sophomore goalkeeper Christiane Cordero registered her second shutout of the season, although she did not have to make a save – both of FMU’s shots were not on frame.

The Patriot shots were by freshman forward Chanel Harris in the 40th minute (wide right of the goal) and sophomore midfielder Jordan Allen in the 60th minute (wide left).

FMU will travel to play Temple University on Friday at 4 p.m. and will then visit Navy on Sunday at 2 p.m.

East Carolina University (5-1-1) def. Francis Marion University (3-6-1) 2-0
Date: Sep 18, 2011  Attendance: 147
Weather: Overcast, 71 degrees

Goals by period           1  2  Tot
-----------------------------------
East Carolina Univ..    1  1 -  2
Francis Marion Univ.  0  0 -  0

SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.   6:26 ECU BAGONIS, Leah (1) (BUTLER, Caty) - 5-yard shot off rebound of header off crossbar
2-0.  82:32 ECU BUTLER, Caty (5) (BAGONIS, Leah;WECHSLER, Rachel) - 12-yard shot

Shots: East Carolina Univ. 16, Francis Marion Univ. 2
Saves: East Carolina Univ. 0 (CORDERO, Christiane 0), Francis Marion Univ. 6 (Lauren Vetock 6)

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