GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina University scored a goal in each half, albeit in a span of 1:42, to down Francis Marion University 2-0, Saturday afternoon (Sept. 29) in women’s soccer action at Bunting Field.

ECU, ranked 13th in the latest Southeast Region poll (done by Soccer Buzz publication), wraps up its non-conference portion of the 2007 schedule and moves to 6-1-2 on the season, while the Patriots fall to 4-4-1.  The Pirates are unbeaten in their last seven matches, while FMU sees its string of shutout wins end at three.

After nearly 45 minutes of scoreless play, ECU freshman Amanda Broz netted her first career goal on a header off a Jami Dickerson pass with 14 seconds remaining before halftime. 

East Carolina increased its lead to 2-0 on Amy Szilard’s third goal of the season, just 1:28 into the second half.  She flicked a kick over FMU goalkeeper Jacque Sutphin’s head, while aided by assists from Anastasia Nikas and Jessica Swanson.

ECU has now gone seven matches without allowing a goal heading into Conference USA action. Pirate keeper Amber Campbell registered two saves on the day, while Sutphin tallied six stops.  ECU outshot the Patriots 13-8.

FMU sophomore Angela Salem took a shot that glanced off the crossbar in the eighth minute.  Salem and senior Ashley Fortune both had shots on goal in the 44th and 45th minutes respectively, prior to ECU’s first score, that Campbell was forced to save.

Francis Marion plays at Davidson College on Oct. 7 at 2 p.m.  ECU returns to action on Friday, when the Pirates travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to take on the University of Southern Mississippi at 5 p.m.   

Francis Marion Univ. (4-4-1) at East Carolina Univ. (6-1-2)

Date: Sep 29, 2007  Attendance: 355

Goals by period       1  2  Tot

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Francis Marion Univ.  0  0 -  0

East Carolina Univ..  1  1 -  2

SCORING SUMMARY:

1-0.  44:46 ECU BROZ, Amanda (1) (DICKERSON, Jami) – header off a pass

2-0.  46:28 ECU SZILARD, Amy (3) (NIKAS, Anastasia/SWANSON, Jessica)

Shots: Francis Marion 8, East Carolina 13

Saves: Francis Marion 6 (Sutphin, Jacque 6), East Carolina 2 (CAMPBELL, Amber 2)