Pirates Set to Open Season at NC State Sunday

Sunday, August 18

Raleigh, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

NC State

August 16, 2024 | Soccer

Game One: East Carolina (9-5-5, 4-2-3 AAC in 2023) at NC State (3-9-6, 2-5-3 ACC in 2023)
Date	Sunday, August 18
Time	7:00 p.m. (ET)
Location	Raleigh, N.C. (Dail Soccer Field)
Coverage	Live Stats: Live Stats \| Video: A CCNX
Game Notes	East Carolina \| NC State
Fact Book	2024 ECU Soccer Fact Book
Social Media	Twitter: @ECUsoc \| Instagram: @ECUSoc \| Facebook: ECU Soccer

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina soccer team is set to open its 2024 season at NC State on Sunday at Dail Soccer Field. A 7 p.m. match, the game will be available for streaming on ACCNX with Andrew Sanders and Michaella Van Maanen on the call.

Last Season
The Pirates had a strong 2023 campaign, building on the progress they've seen under coach Gary Higgins. The Pirates posted a 9-5-5 record, including a 4-2-3 mark in conference play and a fourth-place finish in the American Athletic Conference. Maeve English stood strong in goal as she has for four years in Greenville, earning seven clean sheets and just 0.94 goals allowed per game along the way while the ECU offense posted 24 goals of their own on the year. Sydney Schnell led the way offensively with 13 points on five goals and three assists, including four game-winning goals.

Scouting NC State
The Wolfpack enter the season looking to bounce back after a 3-9-6 campaign in 2023 which featured four games against ranked teams and eight contests against NCAA Tournament qualifying teams. The team was led offensively by Annika Wohner and Alexis Strickland with four goals apiece—Wohner returns as a senior in 2024. In goal, State was keyed by Olivia Pratapas who played 1,261 minutes in goal a season ago, making 70 saves. Pratapas, now a junior, is also back this season.

Series History
The Pirates and Wolfpack have met nine times over the years, most recently in 2019, a 5-2 NC State win. NC State holds the all-time series lead, 4-3-2.

The Pirates earned a draw against the Wolfpack on the road back in 2018, a 1-1 result in Raleigh. Prior to that, the Pirates found victory in the form of a 1-0 home result. Chrissy Gratz netted a 62nd minute winner in that contest. The game also capped a four-game unbeaten streak against the Wolfpack dating back to 1999.

The Familiar Faces
The Pirates return a great deal of experience to their 2024 squad including 603 games played in an ECU uniform, 44 goals scored, 39 assists and all-told 127 points recorded in Purple and Gold. Maeve English returns for another year in goal; defensively Abby Sowa and Lucy Fazackerley are back to hold firm on the back line; and leading scorer Sydney Schnell comes back with five goals and three assists a season ago on the attack as does the ever-clutch Annabelle Abbott.

New Kids on the Block
The Pirate soccer family looks a little bigger this season with nine newcomers to the team comprised of six incoming freshman and three transfer players. The new group includes players from four different U.S. states and two internationals from England in freshman Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram and transfer Mackenzie Smith formerly of NC State. Also in the transfer group is D Amani Green formerly of Mount St. Mary's and M/F Erica Roberts formerly of Florida.

New Expectations
The Pirates have been selected third in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll, the highest preseason standing in program history. With 73 votes, the team wound up behind only national No. 10 Memphis and South Florida and one vote ahead of in-state rival Charlotte.

Ones to Watch
Three Pirates were named to the American's Preseason Watch List: Annabelle Abbott, Maeve English and Samantha Moxie. All three players are poised to bring veteran experience and winning pedigree to the pitch this season.