Greenville, N.C. -- Directional instate foes Western Carolina and East Carolina played to a scoreless draw on Sunday afternoon in women's soccer action at Johnson Stadium. The Catamounts picked up their third-consecutive shutout in the form of the nil-nil decision.
WCU has tied its chromatic cousins for the last 180 minutes of on-field action after last year's 1-1 tie in Cullowhee.  

Defense won the day in Greenville as the two teams combined for 20 shots (9 on goal). The Catamounts had eclipsed 19 shots in both of their last five outings, with the 8 shots against ECU being their lowest since the season opener at Florida. With that being said, the Cats still put 50% of their shots on target with Isabella DeMarco taking five of WCU's 8 shots and all four SOG.  

Though the play will not appear in the box score, sophomore Samantha Whitaker saved the day for the Catamounts in the 86th minute on an ECU corner kick. Goalkeeper Leanne Trudel, who recorded five saves on the day, denied the corner kick attempt but was unable to control the deflection, which was headed behind the keeper and into the cage. Positioned right on the line, Whitaker quickly reacted and cleared the ball with her right foot before any damage was done.  
 
How it happened: 
 For the seventh straight outing, the Catamounts took the first shot of the day, this time courtesy of Naya Marcil. Her opening volley came in the fifth minute of the match but sailed out of play as the Pirates took over with the goal kick. The next shot was taken in the 10th minute by ECU's Juliana Viera and resulted in Trudel's first of five saves in the shutout.  

Isabella DeMarco took her first shot in the 12th minute, forcing a save from ECU's Maeve English. The Pirates responded with another shot only a minute and a half later before play slowed for the next 13 minutes.  
Both teams finished the first half somewhat sleepily, as the two teams combined for only five shots over the final 20 minutes of the half with Isabella DeMarco and Kirsten Hahn taking two and one respectively for the Catamounts. The Purple and Gold held a slim 5-4 shot advantage in the first half with both team's goalkeepers collecting two saves.  

The final 45 minutes began just as the first 45 did: with a Naya Marcil shot. The Pirates then responded with back-to-back shot attempts, with one careening off the woodwork and the second off the deflection. DeMarco responded to the ECU attack with two shots of her own, including the Purple and Gold's best goal chance on the day in the 52nd minute. The Catamount striker broke away from the Pirate defense and ripped a shot high on net from outside the left corner of the box, forcing English to elevate to deny the goal.  

East Carolina would finish off the half taking the final six shots of the day, putting three on target, though their best goal-scoring attempt on the day was denied by Whitaker in the 86th minute.  
 
Catamount Notables: 

• WCU posted their fifth game this season with a .500 SOT percentage or better. All seven matches this year have been at .420 or better. 
• The Catamounts eight shots against ECU are the second most allowed by the Pirates this season. They have given up nine to UNCG and NC State. 
• WCU picked up their second consecutive draw vs ECU with the 0-0 tie. The Catamounts had hit a seven-game skid in the series before last year's 1-1 tie 
• Isabella DeMarco posted five of the Catamount's eight shots on the day and all four of the team's shots on goal. DeMarco has taken 3+ shots in every game this season and at least 4 in 6 of the 7 matches she's appeared in.  
• Leanne Trudel posted her third-consecutive shutout and the 14th of her career. She recorded five saves, her tenth career game with at least five 

 
 
Up Next for the Catamounts: 
The Purple and Gold will return to the Catamount Athletic Complex to host a surging Presbyterian team on Thursday, September 12 at 7:00 p.m. The Thursday night battle will be the first of four consecutive home matches for the Catamounts.