Sept. 8, 2002
Charlotte, N.C. – Senior Melinda Carter scored twice in the second half and junior midfielder Melissa Hutson added one goal and an assist as the South Carolina women’s soccer team defeated East Carolina 4-1 on Sunday afternoon in the Puma Classic. Carolina improved to 3-1 on the season and will next host Clemson on Wed., Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.
“We dominated on the offensive side for a majority of the game and we are happy to come away with a win,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “We still need to learn to compete for 90 minutes and not have any letdowns. Melinda stepped up and came through for us in the second half and really was a leader out on the field. Our team is learning and we need to continue to step it up.”
Carolina outshot the Pirates of East Carolina 18-4 and did not allow a shot until the early part of the second half.
South Carolina scored its first goal of the match early in the first period at 13:15. Senior Morgan McIntyre took a pass near the top of the box from freshman midfielder Stacy Bunchman and beat ECU goalie Lauren Church with a goal to the right corner. The goal gave USC a 1-0 lead and puts McIntyre as fourth in the All-Time Gamecock Scoring List with 51 points. McIntyre is just one point behind Mindy Sanders for third on the list and three behind Angela Austin for second.
East Carolina scored its lone goal in the early part of the second half to knot the match at 1-1. Off a corner kick from Amanda Duffy, Penny Perrott beat goalkeeper Carolyn Ortega to the left corner at 58.35.
USC came right back on the offensive scoring in less then five minutes at 63.12. Junior midfielder Erica Bowie served a ball into the box that was tipped by Jess Julin and headed into the goal by Carter to put USC back on top 2-1.
South Carolina increased the lead to 3-1 at 83:06 as Hutson took a Carter throw-in and launched a shot from 30 yards out off the bar and into the net. The Gamecocks finished the scoring at 89:51 as Hutson led Carter with a pass allowing the Plano, Texas native to knock in the fourth goal into the right corner.
Wednesday night’s match with Clemson will be available for live audio broadcast on uscsports.com. Kevin McCrarey and Richard Rowell will handle the broadcasting duties beginning at 7 p.m.
