Pirates Score Last-Second Stunner Over Vanderbilt, 14-13

Saturday, April 12

Greenville, N.C.

11:00 a.m.

East Carolina University

5-8

Vanderbilt

6-7

Vanderbilt

ECU

Pirates Score Last-Second Stunner Over Vanderbilt, 14-13

April 12, 2025 | Lacrosse

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. The East Carolina lacrosse team defeat Vanderbilt in a 14-13 Senior Day thriller on Saturday afternoon in Johnson Stadium in an American Athletic Conference contest. Riley Matthiesen scored the game-winning goal with 1.9 seconds remaining.

The Pirates (5-8, 3-1 AAC) opened the game strong, highlighted by Leah Bestany, who opened the scoring for the Pirates, scoring 3 goals on her first 3 shots including a remarkable behind-the-back goal making the score 3-2 Pirates at the 7:58 mark in the first. Erin Gulden and Matthiesen also added a goal each to cap off the first quarter.

BTB FROM LEAH BESTANY 😱#SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/IdgnawdwkS
— East Carolina Lacrosse (@eculax) April 12, 2025

The Pirates weathered a three-goal Vanderbilt (6-8, 2-3 AAC) run, responding with a spurt with a run of their own, scoring five unanswered to end the first half. During that run, Bella Askey notched her first career assist.

Vanderbilt started the second half on yet another run, scoring five straight. Jamie Biskup added two goals and Nancy Halleron scored her second of the game to but Vanderbilt ahead, 11-10, with 8:04 remaining in the fourth quarter.

But the Pirates would not go away, getting a goal from Emily Stratton on a free position shot with under three minutes remaining. The Commodores would win the ensuing draw, setting up the most critical defensive possession of the day for ECU. The hosts stood tall, forcing a shot clock violation to regain possession with just a minute to play.

They made good use, opting not to use a timeout, and eventually getting a game-tying score from Gulden to cap her senior-day hat trick with 26.7 seconds to play.

The Pirates lost the draw control battle in the game, 18-12, but got the big one when they needed it most with Maeci Moore scooping the ball up at the restraining line as the seconds dwindled down. The team looked near a turnover several times but managed to advance the ball into their offensive third where Leah Bestany sent a lofting pass into a composed Matthiesen, who scored the game-winning goal with 1.9 seconds remaining.

RILEY WINS IT!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/5H6Eu618t9
— East Carolina Lacrosse (@eculax) April 12, 2025

Bestany finished the game with a team-high four goals and two assists. Kayla Wilkes also starred in the game with six draw controls, three caused turnovers, two goals and an assist.

The win pushed the Pirates into a commanding position entering the final stretch of conference play with the top four teams making the American Athletic Conference Tournament.

Up Next
The Pirates travel to Charlotte on Saturday April 19^th, to face the 49ers for a 1 p.m. contest with conference seeding implications. The game will be available for streaming on ESPN+.