University of Houston
East Carolina
Cougars Claim 2-1 Victory Against East Carolina
10/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Oct. 15, 2010
Box Score - HTML PDFSeason Stats - HTML PDF
Combined Season Stats
| 1 | 2 | F | |
| Houston | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| East Carolina | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Quick Stats | UH | ECU |
| Goals | 2 | 1 |
| Shots | 18 | 7 |
| SOG | 9 | 2 |
| Saves | 1 | 7 |
| Fouls | 17 | 11 |
| Offsides | 1 | 1 |
| Corner Kicks | 5 | 3 |
| Cards (Y/ R) | 0 | 1/0 |
| Statistical Leaders | ||||
| Scoring | Goals | Assists | Minutes | Shots |
| Lauri Byrne | 1 | 0 | 60 | 5 |
| Kylie Cook | 1 | 0 | 90 | 1 |
| Goalkeeping | Saves | Goals | Minutes |
| Cami Koski | 1 | 1 | 90 |
HOUSTON - The Houston Cougars claimed a 2-1 victory against East Carolina Friday night at Robertson Stadium. With a goal in the first half by freshman Kylie Cook and one in the second by Lauri Byrne, the Cougars were able to withstand a late charge by the visiting Pirates and hang on to the lead.
Houston improves to 10-3-2 overall and 5-1-1 in Conference USA. The Cougars now stand in second place in the conference.
The first half was a stalemate with neither team accomplishing much on the offensive side of the ball until a foul by ECU with under a minute left in the half gave the Cougars a chance. Cook took advantage of the opportunity and drilled the free kick from almost 30-yards out and it slipped underneath the goalie's body to send the Cougars to the locker room with the lead.
Lauri Byrne provided the gamewinner for her seventh goal of the season. Nicole Duarte sprung an excellent long through ball that Byrne was able to chase down. The defense for ECU had difficulty keeping pace with the Houston forwards all night and this time proved costly.
Byrne corralled the ball and set up a shot, which she drilled past a charging keeper to extend the lead to 2-0 in the 59th minute.
"It was a back and forth game for the first half and neither of us took advantage much," said head coach Susan Bush. "The second half we came out with a lot more energy and adjusted a few things and we created some more chances on goal."
The chances were there for the Cougars, but some excellent goalkeeping on the part of the ECU goalkeeper, and the goalposts, prevented Houston from extending their league.
The Cougars took 18 shots and had nine shots on goal.
"Plugging in Nicole Duarte had a lot to do with that. She's a very creative player and brings a different flair to the team."
Houston showed a very young lineup in tonight's game featuring six freshman and four sophomores.
Freshman goalkeeper Cami Koski didn't see as much action but was key in grabbing lose balls and directing a young backline. Koski had one save.
"We're a really young team and last weekend we struggled with our youth and inexperience but we pulled it together tonight. We've asked them to step up their game and that's what they have been doing."
ECU showed their best form of the night with 20 minutes to spare. Off a counterattack, Amanda Malkiewicz was able to get a cross to Caty Butler for a goal to tighten things up. The Cougars withstood the late charge and earned the victory.
The 2010 Cougar Soccer team is one win away from tying the program-high of 11 wins (1998,1999).
UP NEXT
Houston hosts Marshall Sunday at 1 p.m. for their final home game of the 2010 season. The three seniors (Melanie Adelman, Lauri Byrne, Kaitlin Thulin) will be honored for Senior Day.
The Cougar Soccer moms are hosting their last tailgate party at the pavilions located near the entrance to Robertson Stadium.
