Pirates Host NC State for Sunday Night Affair

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina soccer workforce hosts a thriller on Sunday as they welcome the NC State Wolfpack to Bill Clark Homes Field at Johnson Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The sport is free to attend for followers and for many who can not make it out, Zach Berly and Brianna Pinro could have the decision on ESPN+.

The contest will mark the Pirates’ annual PGSA Night with a shawl giveaway for the primary 250 followers and an autograph session with the workforce following the sport.

 

What’s at Stake

The Pirates will likely be trying to bounce again from a season-opening loss in opposition to Liberty on Thursday afternoon. The workforce fell by a 3-1 margin with Isabella Gutiérrez scoring the sport’s lone aim. It was this system’s first sport with head coach Emily Buccilla on the helm. The first feminine head coach in program historical past, Buccilla took the reins of a really completely different wanting workforce with just one participant returning having began 10-or-more video games a season in the past and simply 5 who began five-or-more. A victory on Sunday wouldn’t solely give Buccilla her first profession win, however a signature win as well, and maintain bragging rights in Greenville for a rivalry renewed in dramatic vogue a season in the past.

Scouting NC State

The Wolfpack fell to James Madison by a 3-0 margin of their first contest with first-year head coach Gary Higgins on the helm. The workforce will likely be trying to rebound from a 4-10-2 marketing campaign a season in the past by which the workforce solely mustered 16 whole objectives on the season. They do return one among their extra spectacular performers from a season in the past with Olivia Pratapas again in aim after contributing a .757 save proportion in 2024.

Series History

The rivalry between the in-state foes reached a fever pitch a season in the past when the Pirates went into Raleigh and shocked the Wolfpack. Abby Sowa scored the sport’s lone aim within the first half to silence a raucous two-thousand-person crowd at Dail Soccer Field. Maeve English made three saves in aim within the shutout victory.

A Long Road Home

Holly Schlagel and Molly Thomas returned to the pitch in the end on Thursday. Due to a litany of accidents, the pair had not seen sport motion in 1,057 and 679 days, respectively.

Watch List

Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram, Gutiérrez and Viera have been named to the American Conference Preseason Watch List because the Pirate gamers to observe for convention honors this season.

 

The Expectations Game       

The Pirates have been chosen fourth within the American Conference preseason ballot, having garnered one first-place vote (Memphis and South Florida earned the remaining 10). The Pirates have been chosen third a season in the past earlier than successful the American Tournament Championship.

 

Newcomers to Watch             

The Pirates have an ideal group of recent gamers for followers to know going into the season. Notable names embrace switch Olivia Dietrich in aim, freshman Gia Spinetti on the again line, switch AJ Mayock within the midfield, switch Alyssa Tucker and rookie Izzy O’Connor within the forwards group.

 

International Duty    

A few Pirates have been concerned with worldwide play over the offseason. Guitiérrez was known as as much as workforce camp with the Mexican National Team within the spring and Viera performed with the Uruguayan National Team in Copa América Femenina, serving to the facet to an historic run into the semifinals the place they misplaced to eventual champion, Brazil. In the third-place sport in opposition to Argentina, Viera assisted on a aim earlier than scoring her first ever aim in worldwide play. Uruguay sadly went on to drop the sport on PKs, however concluded the match with historic success nonetheless.

 

Summer Play                 

The following Pirates performed in summer time leagues over the break: McKayla Wetsel (Wake FC, USLW), Alyssa Tucker (Wake FC, USLW), Lily Ridge (Wake FC, USLW), Isabella Gutiérrez (Wake FC, USLW), Sydney Cox (Wake FC, USLW), Kyleen Bents (Wake FC, USLW), Emma Sheehan (Asheville City, USLW), Juliana Viera (Asheville City, USLW), Molly Thomas (Reading United AC, WPSL), Kayce Taylor (WFC, WPSL), Sofia Serrano (Las Vegas Ballers, WPSL), AJ Mayock (Peoria City Soccer, WPSL), Olivia Dietrich (Norco Rain FC, WPSL), Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram (Haringey Borough, London Eastern South), Lexi McGinnis (Racing Power FCUSA, UWS).

 

Home Sweet Home 

The Pirates play their dwelling contests in some of the lovely soccer services in Division I in Johnson Stadium. Recently outfitted with a brand new scoreboard and state-of-the-art LED lighting, the venue is a good place to observe a sport whether or not it is an early season matinee or a convention thriller below the lights. Pirate Nation has performed their a part of late, too. Five of the highest 10 attended video games in program historical past have come since head coach Emily Buccilla arrived in Greenville with three coming in simply the previous three seasons, together with the all-time report of 1,335 attendees when the Pirates hosted then-No. 2 Duke in 2022.