Pirates Host VMI In Home Opener

Sunday, August 22

Greenville, N.C.

4:05 P.M.

East Carolina University

VMI

Photo by: Houston McCullough

August 20, 2021 | Soccer

ECU Match Notes

Match 2: VMI (0-1-0) at East Carolina (0-1-0)
Date	Sunday, August 22
Time	4:05 p.m. (EDT)
Location	Greenville, N.C. (Johnson Stadium)
Coverage	Live Stats \| Live Video \| ECU Match Notes
Social Media	Twitter: @ECUsoc Instagram: @ECUSoc Facebook: @ECUwsoccer

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Following a tight overtime loss to open the season, the East Carolina soccer team will try to bounce back as the Pirates host VMI in a Sunday matinee.

ECU opened the season with a tough 2-1 loss at Old Dominion. The Pirates showed fortitude after falling behind just 39 seconds into the contest. Just five minutes later, they had tied the score when a rebound off a Carsen Parker shot fell to Peyton Godbey who scored her first career. However, the early fireworks settled into a defensive battle for the next 90 minutes until the Monarchs grabbed a goal in the first overtime to take the victory.

Godbey is the third rookie Pirate to score this fall. Haley McWhirter, who set up Parker to take her initial shot against Old Dominion, scored a pair of goals in the exhibition at Longwood while Samantha Moxie grabbed a goal in a scrimmage against UNCW. Holly Schlagel is another rookie who has been directly involved in goals, having recorded assists against both Longwood and UNCW.

While the rookies have gotten the plaudits up front, veterans have provided solidity on the spine of the team. Kim Sanford and Addison Salz both picked up where they left off in the center of the defense while seniors Alexia Moore, Morgan Dewey and redshirt sophomore Sierra Lowery have also moved between the defense and the midfield. Behind that backline, Maeve English has continued her stellar play at the goalkeeper position. The Greenville, N.C., native did not allow a goal in 122 minutes of play across the two exhibition matches and followed that up with three saves against Old Dominion.

VMI also opened its season with a one-goal loss, falling to Ohio 1-0 on Thursday night. The Keydets were outshot 21-8, but six saves from goalkeeper Jillian Hall kept VMI within striking distance for the entire 90 minutes. VMI will hope that Whitney Edwards-Roberson will spark the offense as she finished with four goals and one assist last spring. Maggie Beckman also returns for the Keydets are scoring two goals, while Maria Vargas and Gabby Criscione each tallied one goal.

It will be just the second all-time meeting between VMI and East Carolina, with the first coming in 2019. The Pirates traveled to VMI the last time the two teams battled and left with a 3-0 victory. Grace Doran scored a goal in each half while Maycie McDougal, Alexia Moore and Tori Riggs all had assists in the victory. East Carolina is 15-7-0 all-time against current Southern Conference members, with the majority of those wins coming against Western Carolina (8-1-0). The Pirates are also 3-3 against UNCG, 2-2 against Furman and 1-1 against Wofford.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m., inside Johnson Stadium and admission is free for all fans. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Zach Berly on the call.