ECU And SMU Play To Scoreless Draw

Pirates Defense Records Eighth Shutout Of The Season

GREENVILLE, N.C. - For the second-straight match, the East Carolina women’s soccer team played to a double-overtime scoreless tie, this time against SMU Friday night at the ECU Soccer Stadium. With the tie, the Pirates push their record to 8-5-2 overall and 4-1-1 in league play, while the Mustangs are 6-6-3 and 2-2-3 in Conference USA.

SMU possessed the ball for a majority of the game recording 17 shots, six on goal while holding a commanding 16-1 advantage on corner kicks. The Pirates, who recorded their sixth shutout in seven C-USA games, posted 14 shots with two on goal.

Just 45 second into the match, ECU senior Caty Butler put a shot on goal coming off a header, but SMU keeper Lauryn Bodden made a save to keep the game scoreless early on. SMU’s Rikki Clarke posted the only other shot on goal in the first half at the 18:41 mark, but junior Christiane Cordero was their to pick up the first of her six saves on the night.

Both teams continued their stellar defensive play in the second half allowing six total shots in the first 25 minutes, three from each squad. Cordero recorded three saves during that time span, while none of the Pirates shots were on goal. SMU’s Courtney Smith had the best opportunity to score in the half to break the scoreless tie, when she flipped the ball through a Pirate defenders leg in the 72nd minute forcing a diving save by Cordero.

Sophomore defender Danielle Romano sent a set shot into the box at the 72:05 mark for the Pirates, but Bodden was there denying ECU of a goal. Over the final 20 minutes of regulation, SMU outshot ECU 4-3.

During the 20 minutes of extra time, the Mustangs recorded six shots (two on goal), while ECU had three.

Butler led all players with five shots, while senior Chrissy Gratz added four for the Pirates. Mallory Baum led the Mustangs with four shots and six others added two each with Taylor Robinson posting two on goal.

The Pirates will be back in action Sunday, Oct. 14 when they play host to Tulsa at 1 p.m. (ET).

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