Sowa Sends Pirates Past NC State, 1-0

Sunday, August 18

Raleigh, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

1-0-0, 0-0-0

NC State

0-1-1, 0-0-0

East Carolina

NC State

August 18, 2024 | Soccer

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – Abby Sowa's first half goal propelled the East Carolina soccer team past NC State, 1-0, on Sunday night at Dail Field. Maeve English made three clutch saves in goal as the Pirates held strong for the victory.

Entering Sunday, the oldest member of the East Carolina soccer team was not born yet the last time the Pirates downed NC State in Raleigh. That streak is over. The Pirates had the poise of a veteran side and never looked flustered during the game, holding strong even during the Wolfpack's stronger pushes in the second half.

The Pirates simply looked like a stronger team than we saw in 2023 from the opening whistle. The ladies wearing new black kits—and keepers in some snazzy new powder purples—controlled possession and, largely, the chances for much of the contest. It was a hotly contested affair before a crowd of 2,189 fans, a raucous crowd with giveaway vuvuzelas, and one which would take simple determination to win.

Sowa delivered that. At 37:35, after a yellow card provided a free kick to the Pirates on the right side of the pitch, it was Juliana Viera who stepped to the ball to serve up a perfect cross. From the stands it was obvious who it was heading to: the head of Abby Sowa.

There was a delay in the action for a clock issue, but Viera, the endlessly gifted Uruguayan made the wait worth it. From her left foot the ball looped in to Sowa who had somehow found a gap in the defense. Her initial shot was stopped, but on a rebound she would not be denied, finishing with power into the side net.

Perhaps when the historians put to paper the story of East Carolina soccer, may it be written that Sunday night was the date when the Higgins Era truly began. There was depth, there was patience, there was aggressiveness, there was unrelenting competitive spirit. And there was a signature win.

There was also a goalkeeper in her fifth year who showed a composure exemplary of her time served in net for the Pirates. A Greenville native born to don Purple and Gold who made three saves on Sunday night, including two second-half stunners.

The first in the 64^th minute, it is frankly unclear how she kept the ball out. A Jade Bordeleau shot to the lower left of the goal looked like it should have been in, but no, an outreached hand by the wily veteran sent the ball into a carom off the goalpost where it would eventually be sent wide for a corner.

English was called on again late when at the 82:45 mark, Abi Hugh fired a strong attempt to the upper left of the goal. English batted it once, then twice, then collected it securely.

From there, the Pirates held serve. Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram in her collegiate debut looked like a European superstar tiptoeing through the defense and holding the ball at the corner flag. Amy Mason, a Raleigh native, looked well beyond her years in her debut, winning possession time and again, creating scoring chances but more importantly, burning the clock out.

In the end, the Pirates found a way to see it through until the clock hit zero.

The rivalry between ECU and NC State is a storied one which got a tremendous tenth chapter on Sunday. A 1-0 victory, 24 years after another 1-0 victory, moved the East Carolina soccer team to 1-0 and onward to their home opener.

Notables

The Pirates led the way on shots and shots on goal, 11-9 and 4-3.
Sowa's goal was the fourth of her career.
English's clean sheet was the 22^nd of her career, third in program history.
The win was the Pirates first over NC State since 2010 (1-0 in Greenville).
The last time ECU won in Raleigh was also a 1-0 result on August 26, 2000. Charity McClure scored the winner that day at the 89:07 mark.

Up Next
The Pirates will be in Johnson Stadium for the first time in 2024 on Thursday as they host UNC Greensboro at 7 p.m.