SEAHAWK SPORTS ROUNDUP: soccer win over Duke & golf team title

DURHAM, NC (UNCW) — After earning its first national ranking of the season earlier in the day, No. 24 UNCW used a three-goal second half to extend its win streak to five consecutive games with a 3-0 victory over No. 16 Duke at Koskinen Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Seahawks, who earned their fourth consecutive victory over the Blue Devils, improved to 5-0-1 on the season. Duke dropped to 4-1-1 on the season and had its five-game unbeaten streak snapped.

“This was an important road win against Duke,” Coach Aidan Heaney said. “I felt we were the stronger side in the first half without creating too much, but the second half was more even and we had to battle.”

Following a scoreless first half, UNCW took a 1-0 lead in the 79th minute when Daniel Escobar took a pass from Jordan Cordero and scored his third goal of the season.

“Getting the first goal was critical and came at a good time in the game for us,” Heaney said. “Jordan Cordero and Daniel Escobar provided a spark off the bench to combine for the goal. I think we were able to ramp up our determination from there and add two more goals.”

Just over nine minutes later, freshman midfielder Ben Fisher (Chapel Hill H.S./Chapel Hill, N.C.) upped the advantage to 2-0 when he blasted a 25-yard shot into the lower left corner on a free kick. It was Fisher’s fourth goal of the season.

Senior forward Colin Bonner (Reservoir H.S./Fulton, Md.) added an insurance goal with 1:19 left with his sixth goal of the season after a long punt by junior goalkeeper Sean Melvin (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) bounced over a Duke defender, creating a one-on-one opportunity with Duke goalkeeper Wilson Fisher.

Led by Melvin, who made one save while posting his second shutout of the season, the Seahawks limited Duke to a season-low four shots.

“We had some outstanding performances tonight and it takes a team performance to win at a place like Duke,” Heaney said. “Sean Melvin made a key save at 0-0 to maintain status quo and we always feel like we have some goals in our side, and so it proved again tonight.

“All in all, I am really happy with the start and how we are playing, but we will now turn our attention and focus towards Hofstra on Saturday night in our CAA opener,” Heaney added. “Points are very hard to come by in this league so we must be ready.”

#SeahawkStats: Tuesday’s game was the 25th all-time meeting between the two teams … The Blue Devils hold a 15-9-1 lead … Duke and UNCW entered Tuesday’s match in a group of 22 teams in NCAA Division I without a loss this season … Three of Fisher’s four goals have been scored in the last two games … Bonner has a five-game point-scoring streak … He also scored the 22nd goal of his career, moving him into a tie for 10th place on UNCW’s all-time list with Ahmed El Rafi (1996-99) … The Seahawks have not allowed in the last 198 minutes, 52 seconds, dating back to the second half against Campbell on Sept. 6 … Escobar has scored all three of his goals in the last four games and has a four-game point-scoring streak … Melvin’s assist was the first point of his college career … The Seahawks are now 8-0-1 in their last nine regular season matches, dating back to last year … UNCW has won 16 consecutive matches when scoring at least two goals … Coach Aidan Heaney earned his 129th victory at UNCW, tying the school record held by Calvin Lane … Duke averaged 19.0 shots per game entering Tuesday night’s contest … The Seahawks are now 13-19-5 against ranked opponents since 2003, but have won five of their last seven outings.

What’s Ahead for the Seahawks: UNCW begins its Colonial Athletic Association schedule on Saturday, Sept. 19 by traveling to Hofstra for a 7 p.m. game against the Pride.

Men’s College Soccer: No. 24 UNCW 3, No. 16 Duke 0
UNCW                    0          3          –           3
Duke                      0          0          –           0

Goals: UNCW – Daniel Escobar (78:04), Ben Fisher (87:17), Colin Bonner (88:41); Duke – n/a. Assists: UNCW – Jordan Cordero, Sean Melvin; Duke – n/a. Saves: UNCW – Sean Melvin 1 (90:00, 0 goals allowed); Duke – Wilson Fisher 2 (90:00, 3 goals allowed). Shots: UNCW – 8; Duke – 4. Corner Kicks: UNCW – 8; Duke – 3. Attendance: 478.

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WILLIAMSBURG, VA (UNCW) — Senior Annette Lyche (Baerum, Norway) and sophomore Kayla Thompson (West Bladen H.S./Clarkton, N.C.) each finished in a tie for third place as UNCW earned its first tournament title in nearly three years by winning the William & Mary Invitational at the Plantation Course at the Kingsmill Resort on Tuesday afternoon.

The Seahawks, who claimed their first team championship since winning the Lady Pirate Intercollegiate on Oct. 8, 2012, shot a 293 team score for the third consecutive day to finish 12 strokes ahead of host William & Mary with an 879 team score, tying the school record for a 54-hole tournament.

“I am so proud of my team for their effort and performance this week,” Coach Cindy Ho said. “It has been a long two and a half years since our last win and this feels so good. The players have worked so hard on their games over the summer and since they have been back to school and it showed this week. It was a great team effort from everyone.”

Both Lyche and Thompson finished the tournament with an even-par score of 216. Lyche, a two-time first team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection, posted her first under-par round of the season by carding a two-under par score of 70. Meanwhile, Thompson finished the tournament with a 216 score after firing an even-par score of 72.

Sophomore Alaina Yeatts (Trinity School/Durham, N.C.) earned a share of seventh place after carding a six-over par tournament score of 226, including a 77 in the final round. Senior Meghan Theiss (Oldham County H.S./LaGrange, Ky.) followed in a tie for 15th place by posting a 74 score in the final round, giving her a three-round total of 225 (+9).

Making her collegiate debut, freshman Ellinoora Moisio (Kaarina, Finland) carded an 81 in the final round to finish in a tie for 48th place with a three-round total of 240 (+24). Playing as an individual, junior Sydney Boyd (E.A. Laney H.S./Wilmington, N.C.) finished in a tie for 60th place with a tournament total of 249, including a 77 in the final round.

Senior Tan Cheeranont (Bangkok, Thailand) of High Point claimed individual medalist honors after finishing the tournament with a three-under par score of 213.

Notes: The 879 three-round score tied the school record set at the 2008 CAA Championship … Thompson set a career low by shooting a 216 in the tournament … Yeatts also set a career low by finishing with a three-round score of 222, including a tournament-best and career-low 69 score in the second round.

Up Next for the Seahawks: UNCW will be idle until Oct. 2-4 when the Seahawks compete at the UNCG Forest Oaks Fall Classic.

UNCW Individual Results: T-3. Annette Lyche 73-73-70=216; T-1. Kayla Thompson 70-74-72=216; T-7. Alaina Yeatts 76-69-77=222; T-15. Meghan Theiss 74-77-74=225; T-48. Ellinoora Moisio 81-78-81=240; T-60. Sydney Boyd 89-83-77=249.

Team Results: 1. UNCW 293-293-293=879; 2. William & Mary 305-293-293=891; 3. Eastern Kentucky 300-298-296=894; 4. High Point 311-298-296=905; T-5. Appalachian State 298-312-303=913; T-5. Longwood 313-300-300=913; 7. Western Carolina 309-304-307=920; 8. Radford 308-301-316=925; 9. Seton Hall 314-300-314=928; 10. Presbyterian 302-317-311=930; 11. North Dakota State 315-309-310=934; 12. Bucknell 303-315-318=936.

Individual Leaders: 1. Tan Cheeranont (High Point) 70-71-72=213; 2. Alessandra Liu (W&M) 74-69-71=214; T-3. Annette Lyche (UNCW) 73-73-70=216; T-3. Kayla Thompson (UNCW) 70-74-72=216; 5. Anna Gleixner (Eastern Kentucky) 71-73-74=218; 6. Khushboo Thiagaraj (Radford) 72-71-77=220; T-7. Alaina Yeatts (UNCW) 76-69-77=222; T-7. Danielle Fuss (High Point) 78-75-69=222; T-7. Kim Mitchell (Western Carolina) 75-75-72=222; T-10. Cassie Pantelas (Seton Hall) 79-72-72=223; T-10. Jolianna Elias (App. St.) 73-75-75=223; T-10. Katie Edelblut (W&M) 73-75-75=223; T-10. Kyra Horlock (Longwood) 75-74-74=223.

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CONWAY, SC (UNCW) — Despite double-doubles from Nicole Lott and Alyssa Desjardins, UNCW dropped a 3-1, 27-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22) decision to Coastal Carolina in volleyball action on Tuesday at the HTC Center.

The Chanticleers raised their record 6-3 in winning their home opener. UNCW, meanwhile, dropped to 6-3 with their second straight loss. The match capped a three-match stretch that saw UNCW play three straight teams that played in the 2014 NCAA tournament.

Lott finished her fourth double-double of the season with a team-high 16 kills and added 15 digs. Desjardins added 15 assists and 12 digs. Bella Borgiotti led UNCW with 23 assists and Lindsay Hartmann had a team-best 20 digs.

Leah Hardmann held match-high honors with 22 kills for CCU while also recording 22 digs. Aleksandra Djuric had a double-double of 15 assists and 11 digs. Carla Cahill had a match-high 24 digs as CCU held a 98-77 advantage in digs.

How it happened: Coastal Carolina out hit the Seahawks, .128-.106 and posted eight service errors.

Notes: For Lott it was her 13th career double-double … Freshman Katie McCullough had a career-high nine kills … Freshman Anna Moss led UNCW with a career-high tying eight blocks … UNCW now leads the all-time series, 33-23.

Up next: The Seahawks open their home schedule with a 7:30 p.m. start against Presbyterian on Friday. It will be the second match of the Courtyard by Marriott Classic. Stetson and Maryland Eastern Shore open the tournament with a 5 p.m. first-serve.