Pirates Secure First Ever Unbeaten Road Record, Defeat Florida Atlantic 2-0

Sunday, October 27

Boca Raton, Fla.

1:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

7-3-6, 4-2-3

Florida Atlantic

3-10-4, 2-5-2

East Carolina

Fla. Atlantic

Pirates Secure First Ever Unbeaten Road Record, Defeat Florida Atlantic 2-0

October 27, 2024 | Soccer

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. - For the first time in program history the East Carolina soccer team will finish the regular season unbeaten away from home thanks to a 2-0 win over the Florida Atlantic Owls on Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Pirates also clinched their spot in the American Athletic Conference Tournament, November 4-10 in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

The story at the game's opening kick was a significant one: for nearly 16 years, Madison Keller stood atop the East Carolina soccer career starts list. The torch was passed on Sunday as Maeve English made the 83rd start of her illustrious Pirate career. English turned in a performance worthy of her place as a giant of the program's 30-year history, commanding play in her half and making one save and dictating the pace, particularly in the second half, on her way to a 28th career clean sheet, second in ECU history.

Then there was the game itself, a stellar outing for the Pirates (7-3-6, 4-2-3 AAC) who took a 1-0 lead in the 15^th minute when Sydney Schnell served a long cross in from the left side of the pitch, creating a 50-50 ball in the box between Samantha Moxie and Florida Atlantic (3-10-4, 2-5-2 AAC) keeper Lexi Gonzalez. After a deflection from Gonzalez, the ball came through to Moxie who took a first-time volley with poise and no one between herself and the goal. The goal was the Pirate senior's second of the season, previously tallying in the win at Temple on Sept. 12.

Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram gave the team a 2-0 lead in the 28^th minute when she used a sensational first touch in the box to collect Juliana Viera's free-kick delivery and turn for a second-touch left-footed strike. Gonzalez got her gloves to the shot, but it was taken with such pace to be able to trickle past and into the lower right corner. Dolan Boodram's goal was her third of the season and second in three games.

The Pirates had to endure a stretch of 15-20 minutes of positively frenetic play by the Owls in the middle of the second half, but did so well, allowing four shots but only one on goal which English got a stop to. The end result pushed ECU to 5-0-2 away from home on the season, including a 3-0-2 in league games, the first such campaign in program history.

Notables

In addition to breaking the program career starts record, English and Annabelle Abbott made their 83rd career appearances, moving to second in program history.
The Pirates have now outscored their opponents 12-4 away from home with a 64-51 edge on shots and a 10-2 edge on assists.
With 15 points, the team moves to a tie for fourth in the conference with one game remaining.

Up Next
Pirate Nation will get one more shot to see the team for a Halloween Night tilt with Rice on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Johnson Stadium. Wear a costume, be loud, and take a moment to appreciate this excellent Pirate team.