ECU Women’s Soccer Falls, 3-2, at UAB
Junior Kelly Miller recorded three points and scored her first-career goal

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  – The East Carolina women’s soccer team scored the first goal of Sunday’s Conference USA match at UAB, but the Pirates could not hold on and were defeated, 3-1, by the Blazers.

 

ECU (4-7-2, 1-3-0 C-USA) lit up the scoreboard and took a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute when junior Kelly Miller scored her first-career goal off a corner kick by redshirt junior Danielle Romano. The assist by Romano was her second in the last three games – both coming off corner kicks.

 

The Pirates’ lead would not last long however, as UAB (9-3-1, 2-1-1 C-USA) responded just five minutes later with a goal on a Jasmine Kauka  free kick near the top of the goal box, tying the score at one all in the 28th minute.

 

The Blazers took their first lead of the game in the 50th minute on a rebound in front of East Carolina’s goal to grab a 2-1 lead they would carry into halftime.

 

UAB extended its lead to 3-1 in the 70th minute of the match when a Kauka free kick proved lethal again, as she fired a shot through a wall of Pirate defenders and into the lower left corner of the net.

 

ECU began its comeback 12 minutes later when Miller sent a pass into the Blazers’ box, where freshman Lana Spitler redirected the cross past UAB goalkeeper Angelica Jimenez for her second goal of the season and cutting East Carolina’s deficit to just one.

 

The Pirates continued to apply pressure, but their scoring chances came up empty, as UAB held on for the victory. ECU outshot the Blazers, 9-8, in the second half, but UAB finished with an 18-14 overall advantage.

 

In net, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Saundra Baron made four saves on the afternoon.

 

East Carolina will have a seven-day break between games, but will return home next Sunday, Oct. 13 for a 2 p.m., match against Marshall at the ECU Soccer Stadium.