Pirates Stumped by Richmond, 1-0

Thursday, August 21

Richmond, Va.

5:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

0-2-1, 0-0-0

Richmond

2-1-0, 0-0-0

East Carolina

Richmond

August 21, 2025 | Soccer

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – The East Carolina soccer team fell to the Richmond Spiders, 1-0, on Thursday evening at President's Field. Kiley Fitzgerald's early winner proved decisive in the contest.

The Pirates (0-2-1) looked poised to score early in the fifth minute when Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram rifled a shot at goal. And but for a fingertip from keeper Veronica Rrapi it would have been. Instead the ball caromed off of the cross bar and eventually out of play on a clearance.

The game-winner came early, just 7:02 into the contest when Fitzgerald won a second ball in the box with time and space to finish a right-footed shot with poise. Paige West and Emma Newman assisted on the goal. The score had been preceded by an excellent Olivia Dietrich save on Newman. The Pirates' keeper would go on to make four saves on the day.

ECU stayed on the front foot in the second half hunting an equalizer. The best chance was perhaps Alyssa Tucker's shot in the 47th minute on a countering chance which Rrapi just managed to get a kick save to, keeping the Pirates off of the board. Rrapi finished the day with a five-save clean sheet.

It was an important win for the Spiders (2-1-0) who now move over .500 on the season, and a frustrating one for the Pirates, still looking for answers offensively without a goal from the run of play.

Up Next
The Pirates won't have to wait long to try to bounce back, staying in Richmond for a date with VCU on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.