PEMBROKE – If there was ever a time to net your first-career goal, junior defender Katy Ryan found it on Thursday evening in the UNC Pembroke soccer team's season-opening victory over Chowan. The Cape Carteret native bent a 29th-minute corner kick off the keeper's glove, off the crossbar and in the back of the net to account for the lone goal in UNCP's 1-0 triumph. 

MATCH INFORMATION
Score: UNC Pembroke 1, Chowan 0
Records: UNC Pembroke (1-0); Chowan (0-1)
Location: Lumbee River EMC Stadium
Series: UNC Pembroke leads 6-1

HOW IT HAPPENED
Box Score/Play-by-Play

FIRST HALF
-The season's first strike came off the right foot of UNCP's Stacey Scott, but the senior's attempt in the sixth-minute sailed wide left of the net.
-Katy Ryan's first corner kick came a few seconds later and the Braves would pile on seven more shots and another corner kick in the game's first 26 minutes.
-Ryan's goal in the 29th-minute was the first of her career on her 14th-career shot. Her right-footed boot clipped off Olivia Borer's fingertips and found the back of the net after clanging off the left post.
-UNCP was in control for the entirety of the first half and out shot the visitors by a 10-1 margin, as well as taking the only three corner kicks of the opening 45 mintues.

SECOND HALF
-Chowan found its footing in the backend of the second half and logged five of its six shots in the final 25 minutes of the game.
-There were five yellow cards issued in the second half of a hard-fought game, including a trio to UNCP players.
-Black & Gold keeper Gina Ryan made three of her four saves in the second half, all in a span of just over six minutes from 64:57 to 71:10.

NOTABLES
-UNCP out shot the Hawks 17-6 in the match and took all six of the night's corner kicks.
-A total of 31 fouls were called and six yellow cards were issued (three to each side) in the match.
-Scott tallied a game-high four shots (two on goal), while Carly Rochelle and and Bree Mason each attempted a trio of shots.
-Ryan was a perfect 4-for-4 on saves, as the junior logged her 19th-career shutout in 33 games in which she has played from start to finish.
-UNCP has now outscored Chowan 19-0 in the teams' last six meetings.

UP NEXT
The Braves trek to Charlotte for a 2017 NCAA Tournament rematch with Queens (0-1) on Saturday evening. The match will begin at 5 p.m. at the Sports Complex at Marion Diehl Park. The Royals fell 3-2 at home to Lynn in Thursday's season opener. UNCP leads the all-time series 4-2 over Queens, but the sides split a pair of games in Charlotte.