The UNCW women’s soccer team continued a tough early season schedule Sunday, falling to local rivals East Carolina 2-1 in a closely contested overtime match. Despite creating the majority of the match’s offensive chances, the Seahawks (1-3-1) surrendered a first half lead to drop their second straight match.

The Seahawks entered the match with an injury-depleted squad, missing defender Jenna Evans and goal-scoring threat Erica Rodgers most notably.

The Seahawks opened the match controlling most of the possession and put themselves ahead in the 30th minute through freshman striker Kelly Dodd. Outside defender Brittany Croce raced forward out of the back before slipping a through ball into the path of the cutting Dodd, who calmly pushed her shot into the bottom right corner of the net for her first collegiate goal.

However, the Pirates did not stay behind for long, as they managed to pull one back before the end of the half. After the Seahawks failed to clear an ECU corner kick, Pirates’ freshman Leah Bagonis collected the loose ball and found the net with a shot through traffic.

The goal, which came with just under a minute remaining in the first half, stuck in the mind of Seahawks Head Coach Paul Cairney as the turning point in the match.

“We can’t give away goals at crucial times in the match,” he said. “The five minutes before the half is important to either score a goal or not give up a goal. That goal gave them some momentum for the second half.”

The Seahawks continued pressing in the second half, coming close to retaking the lead when freshman midfielder Erin Pardini went head-to-head with Pirates’ goalkeeper Amber Campbell in the 87th minute. Pardini broke into the left side of the box and tried to slip a shot inside the right post; however, Campbell came up with a sprawling save to end the Seahawk threat.

“Their goalkeeper made a fantastic save that keeps them in it, so you’ve got to give her credit,” Cairney said.

The Seahawks’ disappointment late in regulation was only multiplied in the first overtime period as East Carolina grabbed the golden goal winner in the 97th minute. Junior Jessica Swanson corralled a long ball out of the Pirates defense after it skipped by two Seahawk defenders and buried her shot in the top right corner.

Despite the disappointing result, Cairney believes there are lessons to be taken from the match.

“We have to win the close games,” he said. “Anticipation and timing are key to defending and that goal was exactly what we need to work on.”

However, defending isn’t the only thing troubling Cairney as the Seahawks return to action this weekend with a notably short-handed squad.

“Injuries, injuries, injuries,” he repeated. “We’ve got to get rested and get our players healthy.”