Pirates Lose to Connecticut, 2-1

Storrs, Conn. – The ECU women’s soccer team lost to Connecticut, 2-1, at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium on Sunday. The Pirates fall below .500 for the first time this season at 5-6-2 overall and 0-4 in the American Athletic Conference. The Huskies pick up their first AAC win of the season and improve to 3-5-3 overall.

Connecticut took an early 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. ECU evened things up when Jenna Geist shot from 12-yards out in the center of the box on an assist by Chentay Warnes. Five minutes later the Huskies regained the lead on a goal by Sabrina Toole. The two went on to play a scoreless second half as Connecticut held on for a 2-1 lead.

The Huskies lead the all-time series 5-0 and have beaten ECU 2-1 in both of the last two meetings.

Team Records

ECU (5-6-2, 0-4 ACC), Connecticut (3-5-3, 1-1 AAC)

Scoring Summary

10:03: Connecticut Goal – Erin Spillane (Danielle Gottwik) [UConn 1, ECU 0]

27:17: ECU Goal – Jenna Geist (Chentay Warnes) [UConn 1, ECU 1]

32:29: Connecticut Goal – Sabrina Toole (Elena Santos) [UConn 2, ECU 1]

Donnenwirth’s Thoughts

“I thought the team played a great first half,” head coach Rob Donnenwirth said. “But we lost focus on the first goal. We just didn’t have enough legs left to make a big push in the second half to get the equalizer. We have our bye week this week and we need to get some players healthy for the second half of conference play.”

News and Notes

- Geist’s goal marks the first of the season for her bringing her point total to eight, second-most on the team. She now has four career goals

- This marks the first second-straight year ECU has begun AAC play 0-4.

- Warnes tallied the first assist of her career on Geist’s goal

- ECU was outshot 14-4 in the match and UConn had a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks

- Michelle Newhouse made three saves in the loss bringing her season total to 45

Up Next

ECU will enter its bye week of American Athletic Conference play and returns to action Oct. 12 when the Pirates welcome Memphis to Johnson Stadium for a 7 p.m. first touch.