Gulden Winner Sends Pirates Past Old Dominion, 11-10

Saturday, April 20

Greenville, N.C.

2 PM

East Carolina University

4-11

Old Dominion

3-12

Old Dominion

East Carolina

April 20, 2024 | Lacrosse

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. - It was a nail-biter in Johnson Stadium as Erin Gulden's score with 2:00 remaining pushed the East Carolina Lacrosse team by Old Dominion, 11-10, on Saturday afternoon. The Pirates led for much of the game as they held of multiple ODU comeback efforts.

It was perhaps fitting that it was ROTC Cadet Gulden who starred for the Pirates (4-11. 1-5 AAC) as the team wrapped up their home season with Military Appreciation Day. The junior finished the game with two goals, an assist and five draw controls which matched her career high from 2023. Gulden was one of five Pirates who tallied a pair on Saturday as Frances Kimel, Ellie Bromley, Emily Stratton and Riley Mattheisen all found the back of the net twice on the day.

For Bromley and Gulden, the game featured extra significance as each player eclipsed 100 career points in the game.

The Pirates looked the part of the better team for parts of the game, jumping out to a 3-1 lead after one quarter and eventually a 6-3 halftime lead. By the end of the third, though, things had evened up. The Monarchs (3-12, 0-5 AAC) had righted the ship and leveled the game at seven entering the final 15 minutes of play. In doing so, ODU leveled many of the team statistics in the game as the final margins wound up as follows: saves, 13-11 to ODU; draw controls, 13-12 to ECU; turnovers, 12-10 to ECU; caused turnovers, seven apiece. The Pirates also won the shooting margin by 32-28 total and 24-21 in shots on goal.

In the fourth, the Pirates were never able to push ahead by more than two goals but rose to the occasion when called upon. The two critical moments of the game came at the end. First, Gulden made a tremendous solo effort, working from behind the cage to wrap around and place a shot in the lower left corner, putting ECU ahead for the final time.

On the final possession, the Pirates held firm, standing tall on a free position attempt with 65 seconds remaining which wound up eventually with a save for Brynn Knight. Maddie Kercher and Courtney Frank were also in on the play, preventing Sydney Taylor from getting power on the shot. From there, the Pirates cleared the ball successfully and managed to play keep-away to run out the clock on their fourth win of the year.

Knight got the start in goal for the Pirates and earned what was her 20th career victory, making 11 saves in the effort. Brynn Bowen played all but the final minute and change for ODU, making 13 saves in the loss.

Up Next
The Pirates hit the road one last time to conclude 2024 at Mercer on Monday at 2 p.m.