East Carolina University
Temple
Pirates Conclude Home Stand Against Temple on Thursday
October 08, 2025 | Soccer
| Game 12: East Carolina (4-4-3, 2-1-1 American) vs. Temple (3-11-0, 0-5-0 American) | |
| Date | Thursday, Oct. 9 |
| Time | 7:00 p.m. (ET) |
| Location | Greenville, N.C. (Bill Clark Homes Field at Johnson Stadium) |
| Coverage | Live Stats: Live Stats | Video: ESPN+ |
| Game Notes | East Carolina |
| Social Media | Twitter: @ECUsoc | Instagram: @ECUSoc | Facebook: ECU Soccer |
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina soccer team is back at home on Thursday evening for another American Conference contest, this time with Temple. Scheduled for 7 p.m., the game is free to attend for fans and will be available for streaming on ESPN+ with Zach Berly and Matison Little on the call.
It will be a White Out game at Bill Clark Homes Field at Johnson Stadium on Thursday with free shirts being given away to the first 100 fans in attendance.
What's at Stake
The Pirates will look to extend their unbeaten streak to two while also extending their winning streak over Temple to five. After a whirlwind of the second half which saw ECU close with a wuthering comeback to erase a two-goal deficit in the final 25 minutes against Florida Atlantic last Thursday, the team will aim to keep that wind in their sails after they wholly flipped the momentum of that 2-2 draw to turn a sure defeat into an important point in league play. The Pirates will also be looking for important points with seeding implications as they enter in a three-way tie for fourth in the American at seven points. Memphis leads the league with 13 points.
Scouting Temple
The Owls enter the matchup with a 3-11-0 overall record and an 0-5-0 mark in American Conference play after dropping a 1-0 decision against North Texas in their last outing. For the season, Ariana Gronauer and Valentina Bitterwolf pace the offense with three goals apiece, while Bitterwolf also leads the team with five assists. Temple has utilized a trio of goalkeepers this season, combining for an average save percentage of .733.
Series History
The Pirates hold a 7-2-2 record against the Owls all time dating back to 2014. The Pirates and Owls last faced off in Philadelphia on September 9, 2024. In that game goals from Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram and Samantha Moxie lifted the Pirates to a 2-1 away victory. The Pirates have won four straight over the Owls dating back to a 2-1 win in Greenville in 2021.
Weekly Honors         Â
Ella Steck earned an American Conference Weekly Honorable Mention nod for her efforts against Florida Atlantic which included scoring the game-tying goal as well as keying the Pirates offense for much of the second half.
First Career Goal, First Goal in a While
Mackenna Gregory's score against Florida Atlantic was the first of the senior's career. It came in just her second game of the season after returning from injury and in just her 51st minute of action.
Ella Steck's goal was her first in 34 games, most recently scoring on Sept. 3, 2023 in a 3-1 win at High Point.
Historic Comeback  Â
The Pirates comeback to earn a draw with Florida Atlantic on Thursday was the second time in program history in which ECU has trailed by two-goals at halftime or later to earn a result (North Texas, 2023). On 2 other occasions, the team has rallied from 2-0 down having scored at least one goal in the first half (2009 NC State, 2002 Virginia Tech). That 2009 NC State game was a bizarre one with both NC State goals being scored by 6:02 into the game and the second ECU goal being scored 23:33 into the game. The Pirates have never come all the way back to win a game after trailing by two.
Down two with 25:37 remaining also makes the comeback the latest such effort in program history.
Not Superstitious, but A Little Stitious    Â
Record by uniform color: Purple: 1-2-0 | White: 0-2-2 | Black: 3-0-1
The Woman in Charge
After seven seasons as an assistant, Emily Buccilla takes the reins as head coach in 2025. She is the first female head coach in program history.
Pirates in the Pros
Two recent East Carolina alumnae have recently signed professional contracts with Maeve English joining AO Rethymniaki Enosi Athliton on the isle of Crete, competing in the Greek Division A. Meanwhile, Abby Sowa inked a contract with Rekord Bielsko-Biała in Poland's Orlen Superliga. Notably, Sowa will be competing in the same league as former Pirate teammate Kim Sanford.
Home Sweet Home
The Pirates play their home contests in one of the most beautiful soccer facilities in Division I in Bill Clark Homes Field at Johnson Stadium. Recently outfitted with a new scoreboard and state-of-the-art LED lighting, the venue is a great place to watch a game whether it's an early season matinee or a conference thriller under the lights. Pirate Nation has played their part of late, too. Five of the top 10 attended games in program history have come since head coach Emily Buccilla arrived in Greenville with three coming in just the past three seasons, including the all-time record of 1,335 attendees when the Pirates hosted then-No. 2 Duke in 2022.
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