Sunday, October 22
Denton
1 PM CT
University of North Texas
8-4-3, 2-3-3
2
vs
2
East Carolina
9-3-5, 4-1-3
1
2
F
East Carolina
0
2
2
North Texas
2
0
2
Soccer Draws With East Carolina, 2-2
10/22/2023 4:21:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DENTON — The UNT soccer team drew 2-2 with East Carolina Sunday afternoon at the Mean Green Soccer Complex.
North Texas led 2-0 over the American Athletic Conference East Division leaders going into the half. However, they conceded a goal in the 58th minute and then the Pirates converted on a penalty kick in the 77th minute following a UNT handball to level score.
With North Texas' result and UAB falling 4-2 to Tulsa and UTSA losing 1-0 to South Florida Sunday, the Mean Green stay put in the eighth-place position with one match remaining before the eight-team AAC tournament.
After Sunday, UNT holds a two-point advantage over ninth place UAB. The Blazers close out the season next week at home versus last place Temple while North Texas hosts SMU on Thursday. The Mustangs are tied for fourth place after defeating Charlotte 1-0 on Sunday at home.
North Texas and UAB didn't play this season. However, UNT holds the tiebreaker over the Blazers due to points versus common opponents.
So a win or a draw by the Mean Green Thursday over SMU secures their spot in the conference tournament. Or if UAB loses or draws with Temple Thursday UNT would clinch a spot in the tournament regardless of its result versus SMU.
Unfortunately, the Mean Green (8-4-3, 2-3-3) would have punched their ticket into the conference tournament on Sunday had they held on to the lead versus the ECU (9-3-5, 4-1-3).
Despite that, though, North Texas showed much improvement on Sunday versus the Pirates. They constantly were putting pressure on the ECU backline that is allowing just 0.6 goals per match and a couple near misses in the second half almost broke the match wide open. Defensively, they handled the Pirates' attack well.
UNT improves to 8-0-2 on the year in matches where they score first and is on a 21-match unbeaten streak in games where they score first.
"I thought we played very connected today," said senior Jenna Sheely. "We didn't get the result we wanted and credit to East Carolina they're a really good team, but today was encouraging and I think we have a lot to build off going into our final match."
North Texas' first goal on Sunday was scored by Sheely in the 15th minute on a penalty kick. She now is three-for-three on the year in penalty kicks and leads the nation in penalty kick percentage. The goal is her seventh of the season, which ties her with Summer Brown for the team lead.
UNT's second goal on Sunday was scored by freshman Mia Bernard in the 42nd minute. Her second goal of the year. Fellow freshman Bree Korta delivered the ball into the box where Bernard was able to one-time it past the ECU keeper for the goal. It's Korta's first career assist.
North Texas closes out the regular season on Thursday with a home match versus SMU. It'll be the Mustangs first trip to Denton since 2011 when UNT defeated them 2-1. The match is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+. UAB and Temple also kickoff on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT.
North Texas led 2-0 over the American Athletic Conference East Division leaders going into the half. However, they conceded a goal in the 58th minute and then the Pirates converted on a penalty kick in the 77th minute following a UNT handball to level score.
With North Texas' result and UAB falling 4-2 to Tulsa and UTSA losing 1-0 to South Florida Sunday, the Mean Green stay put in the eighth-place position with one match remaining before the eight-team AAC tournament.
After Sunday, UNT holds a two-point advantage over ninth place UAB. The Blazers close out the season next week at home versus last place Temple while North Texas hosts SMU on Thursday. The Mustangs are tied for fourth place after defeating Charlotte 1-0 on Sunday at home.
North Texas and UAB didn't play this season. However, UNT holds the tiebreaker over the Blazers due to points versus common opponents.
So a win or a draw by the Mean Green Thursday over SMU secures their spot in the conference tournament. Or if UAB loses or draws with Temple Thursday UNT would clinch a spot in the tournament regardless of its result versus SMU.
Unfortunately, the Mean Green (8-4-3, 2-3-3) would have punched their ticket into the conference tournament on Sunday had they held on to the lead versus the ECU (9-3-5, 4-1-3).
Despite that, though, North Texas showed much improvement on Sunday versus the Pirates. They constantly were putting pressure on the ECU backline that is allowing just 0.6 goals per match and a couple near misses in the second half almost broke the match wide open. Defensively, they handled the Pirates' attack well.
UNT improves to 8-0-2 on the year in matches where they score first and is on a 21-match unbeaten streak in games where they score first.
"I thought we played very connected today," said senior Jenna Sheely. "We didn't get the result we wanted and credit to East Carolina they're a really good team, but today was encouraging and I think we have a lot to build off going into our final match."
North Texas' first goal on Sunday was scored by Sheely in the 15th minute on a penalty kick. She now is three-for-three on the year in penalty kicks and leads the nation in penalty kick percentage. The goal is her seventh of the season, which ties her with Summer Brown for the team lead.
UNT's second goal on Sunday was scored by freshman Mia Bernard in the 42nd minute. Her second goal of the year. Fellow freshman Bree Korta delivered the ball into the box where Bernard was able to one-time it past the ECU keeper for the goal. It's Korta's first career assist.
North Texas closes out the regular season on Thursday with a home match versus SMU. It'll be the Mustangs first trip to Denton since 2011 when UNT defeated them 2-1. The match is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+. UAB and Temple also kickoff on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
ECU
UNT
Goals
2
2
Shots
17
13
Shots on Goal
8
7
Saves
4
6
Corners
6
0
Fouls
9
11
Scoring Plays
Jenna Sheely (6)
UNT Jenna Sheely PENALTY KICK GOAL.
14:15
Mia Bernard (2)
Assisted By: Bree Korta
GOAL by UNT Bernard, Mia Assist by Korta, Bree.
41:52
Samantha Moxie (2)
GOAL by ECU Moxie, Samantha.
57:56
Abby Sowa (1)
ECU Abby Sowa PENALTY KICK GOAL.
76:08
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
mid
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Midfield
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