Pirates Clinch American Tournament Berth with 2-1 Win Over UTSA

Sunday, October 26

San Antonio, Texas

2:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

6-6-4, 4-3-2

UTSA

7-5-5, 3-3-3

East Carolina

UTSA

Pirates Clinch American Tournament Berth with 2-1 Win Over UTSA

October 26, 2025 | Soccer

Box Score

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The East Carolina soccer team finished their Texas trip on a high with a 2-1 win over UTSA on Sunday afternoon at the Park West Athletics Complex. With the win, the Pirates have officially clinched their spot in the American Conference Tournament.

After the Roadrunners (7-5-5, 3-3-3 American) had an early goal waved off for offsides—and the call being upheld after a lengthy review—the Pirates (6-6-3, 4-3-2 American) officially opened the scoring in the 24th minute when AJ Mayock converted an Isabella Gutiérrez goal into a headed goal. Mayock positioned herself well at the back post on the play and delivered the ball firmly back across the goal where UTSA keeper Jasmine Kessler was unable to keep it out.

Though it was the Pirates with the goal at halftime, it came on one of just two shots for the team as the Roadrunners put up seven shots. However, of those seven shots, just two were on goal and both were saved by ECU goalkeeper Olivia Dietrich.

For most of the second half, it was all UTSA. The Roadrunners possessed in their second half and the Pirates held their form and repelled every opportunity.

The game finally swung back in the 80th minute when UTSA suffered an ill-timed giveaway just inside midfield allowing Gutiérrez to collect the ball unmarked. With Kessler well out of her goal, the Pirate captain chipped the keeper from inside the center circle for what is certainly the goal of the year for ECU so far this season. Three points in the game equaled a career high for the senior.

UTSA clawed one back in the 85th minute when Izzy Lane delivered a great ball on a free kick from close range directly to Michelle Polo who headed home a no-doubter goal to cut the margin to 2-1.

Dietrich stepped up big in the 87th minute when UTSA had a nice interplay to get a clean look in front of goal for Leah Varela. Varela had time and space and put the ball on frame, but the junior keeper was up to the moment with a stop to end the attack.

The Roadrunners got two corner kicks in the final minute of the game, making it as nervous making a finish as one could dream up, but the ECU defense, as they had all half, stood firm to secure the victory.

With the win and a tournament spot secured, attention will turn to seeding in the final week of the season as teams jockey for positioning in the eight-team American Conference Tournament.

Notables

AJ Mayock's first half goal gave her three scores in the last four games.
Isabella Gutiérrez' score was her first career game-winning goal.
UTSA outshot the Pirates 22-4 but had only a 5-3 edge in shots on goal. Olivia Dietrich made four saves to earn the win in goal.
The Pirates have officially secured a sixth-consecutive American Conference Tournament berth.

Up Next: The Pirates will close out the regular season at home against rival Charlotte on Thursday at 7 p.m.