Cash’s two goals help ECU to a 3-0 win over UNCW

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The ECU women’s soccer team improved to 5-2-1 Thursday night, matching its wins total from a year ago. The Pirates were led in the 3-0 victory over UNCW by Courtney Cash who tallied a pair of goals. Freshman defender Kim Sanford scored her first career goal and tallied her first career assist on Cash’s first goal.

UNCW controlled the opening half of the first period but Cash’s goal in the 25th minute ignited the Pirates’ offense. With four minutes left in the half Sanford scored for a 2-0 lead. Sanford’s goal game off a deflection from outside the box by Jenna Geist who made first contact with Daria Draovitch’s corner kick in the 42nd minute.

Cash gave the Pirates some security in the 56th minute with a breakaway goal in which freshman Cashlin Copley had the assist.

Michelle Newhouse secured her fourth shutout of the season making three saves. She improves to 4-2-1 in goal for the Pirates.

Team Records

ECU (5-2-1), UNCW (3-5-1)

Scoring Summary

24:13 – ECU Goal: Courtney Cash (Kim Sanford) [ECU 1, UNCW 0]

41:01 – ECU Goal: Kim Sanford (Jenna Geist, Daria Draovitch) [ECU 2, UNCW 0]

55:20 – ECU Goal: Courtney Cash (Cashlin Copley) [ECU 3, UNCW 0]

Donnenwirth’s Thoughts

“It was a good response from our girls after last weekend. I’ve got to tell you, huge save in the beginning of the game. Who knows what the game turns into like that? Honestly, the first 15 minutes was them. But once we start passing the ball well, we play really well. We tried to play our forwards a little high trying to add another midfielder into the attack so if we lost the ball at least we could defend higher up the field. Once we got rid of the nicks in the beginning of the game and some bad passes and we started talking around I thought we were really good. ”

News and Notes

- The Pirates improve to 5-2-1 overall matching their wins total from a year ago

- ECU remains undefeated at home in 2017 posting a 3-0-1 record at Johnson Stadium

- Sanford tallied her first goal and assist as a Pirate

- Cash and Copley paired for a goal-assist combination for the second time this season

- ECU outshot the Seahawks 11-8 and held a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks

Up Next

ECU continues its four-match home stand on Sunday when the Pirates welcome No. 5 Virginia to Johnson Stadium at 1 p.m.