Sept. 3, 2010
Final Stats
Final Stats (PDF)
WILMINGTON, N.C.- The Chanticleers claimed their second come from behind win of the season tonight at the UNCW Hilton Garden Inn Invitational to claim a 3-2 victory over tournament host UNCW.
The two teams played a scoreless first half that featured two of goal keeper Jessica Barton's five saves on the night.
In the second half UNCW got on the board first in the 46th minute of the game as Stephanie Rose connected on a penalty kick resulting in a foul on Coastal in the keeper's box.
UNCW extended their lead in the 59th minute of the contest after Amanda Holmes found the net on a low line drive inside the right post from 18 yards out.
Spurred by a spectacular diving save to deflect the ball over the crossbar in the 65th minute by Barton, Coastal began to mount their come back. In the 74th minute Anna Tupy fed the ball down from the top of the box where it found the swift foot of freshman Hannah Brown who made the most of the opportunity and fired the ball under the crossbar from 22 yards out to bring the Chants within one at a 2-1 score.
"Jess Barton came up huge for us tonight with some great saves to keep the game close," said first year head coach Tammy DeCesare. "The back line also did a wonderful job at keeping their composure after UNCW had scored."
Refusing to accept defeat, the Chants continued to pressure the Seahawks defense in the waning moments of the game resulting in two corner kicks in the final 12 minutes. In the 80th minute the Chanticleers made the most of one of their corners. Brown served the ball into the box from the corner and found freshman Alyssa Clark who deflected the ball past the UNCW sweeper to even the game at two. The goal was Clark's first of her young collegiate career.
With the threat of overtime for the second time in as many games looming over the head of the Chants, Tupy was fouled in the box after making a great run down the far side; setting up a penalty kick for sophomore Morgan Thomas. Thomas lined up for the free kick and slotted the ball home to give the Chanticleers a 3-2 lead with 1:13 to play in regulation.
"This was a remarkable game and effort out of the team for them to come back again from a 2-0 deficit against a very good UNCW team," said DeCeasare. "This was a great test of the composure of the girls and they did a fine job responding to the situation."
On the night the Chants tallied eight shots and six shots on goal while also taking five corner kicks.
The Chants will return to the UNCW Hilton Garden Inn Invitational on Sunday when they take on Southern Conference member Elon, who defeated Gardner-Webb 3-2 tonight in double overtime.
