Scintillating Seniors Help Pirates Supplant Rice for AAC Third Seed, 2-1

Thursday, October 31

Greenville, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

8-3-6, 5-2-3

Rice

11-5-2, 5-4-1

Rice

East Carolina

Scintillating Seniors Help Pirates Supplant Rice for AAC Third Seed, 2-1

October 31, 2024 | Soccer

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina soccer team got a pair of goals from two of their most veteran players as Abby Sowa and Sierra Lowery propelled the Pirates past Rice, 2-1, in Thursday night in Johnson Stadium. With the win, the team has secured the third seed in next week's American Athletic Conference Tournament, held Nov. 4-10 in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Third is the team's highest league finish since winning the CUSA regular season title in 2008 and their highest ever in the American.

The Pirates (8-3-6, 5-2-3 AAC) made it a thriller on Halloween night, turning in an outing which was simply dominant for stretches. Abby Sowa got the first tally on the board in the 20th minute when she finished her fifth career penalty kick. Sowa's finish was set up by a miscalculation in the box by Rice leading to a VAR check by the referee who after a lengthy review, pointed to the spot to set up The Captain's seventh career goal.

Never a doubt from The Captain 🫡 pic.twitter.com/QGXNslF952
— East Carolina Soccer (@ECUSoc) October 31, 2024

The Pirates stayed on the front foot into the second half looking for a two-goal cushion and after much pressing, they got it from the foot of an unexpected player. Sierra Lowery had scored one goal in her five seasons in Purple and Gold entering Thursday night. She made sure that her second was a spectacular one. In the 60th minute, Kylie Alvarez' cross took a deflection out to Lowery past the top of the 18 where the do-it-all midfielder struck a sensational right-footed shot at goal. The strike could not have been better placed, curling into the upper left corner of the goal where no keeper could have stopped it.

SIERRA LOWERY MY GOODNESS!!

2-0 lead for the Pirates!! pic.twitter.com/jp2vTdiTGe
— East Carolina Soccer (@ECUSoc) November 1, 2024

The Pirates did suffer a short spell of uneasy play in the second half and Rice (11-5-2, 5-4-1 AAC) took advantage with a goal by Lauren Pickup in the 81st minute. But the home side was able to keep level heads from there, dispensing with multiple Owl attacks and running out the clock for the victory.

Following the win, the Pirates honored their graduate captain keeper, Maeve English, who made three saves on Thursday, with a commemorative game ball honoring her achievement of breaking the program's 16-year-old career starts record last time out.

Thanks for everything, @maevenglish15! Now let's go to Florida for some hardware! pic.twitter.com/JLueUA3xvD
— East Carolina Soccer (@ECUSoc) November 1, 2024

Notables

The Pirates regular season win percentage of .647 is the team's best since '08.
Maeve English and Annabelle Abbott equaled the program record for career appearances at 84 in the game with English extending her own career starts record to the same.
The senior class finishes with a 17-12-6 record in Johnson Stadium during their four years. Fifth years end with a 19-14-8 mark.

Up Next
The Pirates get a rare shot at revenge when they take on sixth-seeded Charlotte on Monday, Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. ET in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. After being eliminated by the 49ers last season, it will be a welcome change to get even and will be available for streaming on ESPN+.