Defense Stands Tall to Push Pirates Past Temple, 8-7

Saturday, March 21

Greenville, NC

11:00 a.m.

East Carolina University

4-4

Temple

8-3

Temple

East Carolina

March 21, 2026 | Lacrosse

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. - A late Kayla Wilkes goal and a defensive stand helped the East Carolina lacrosse team secure a Senior Day thriller over the Temple Owls, 8-7, on Saturday afternoon on Bill Clark Homes Field at Johnson Stadium.

The Pirates (4-4, 1-1 American) got off to a strong start, netting the game's first three goals with a Grace Moore tally followed by a pair from Riley Matthiesen. Temple (8-3, 0-2 American) rebounded to level the score midway through the second quarter keyed by a couple of scores from Lexi Culp.

The teams traded goals to enter halftime level at four apiece. Jamie Collender scored the final first-half goal for the Pirates.

Already a defensive struggle, things tightened further in the offensive end in the third quarter, ECU getting goals from Rachel Chessock and Sarah Goodison and Temple getting a score from Sabrina Martin. The Pirates did not allow that Owls goal until there were fewer than five minutes remaining in the period.

The intensity—and the crowd noise, with a rowdy set of fans filling the stands—ratcheted up further in the fourth. Temple managed to level the game with 8:43 remaining on a Laura Conner score to set up an epic finish.

The Pirates took the lead back with 6:11 remaining on another Moore goal. The junior put the team in front when Chessock's strike as the shot clock expired was turned away by Riley Horoshko. Horoshko was not able to corral the ball and it found its way just outside of the crease with the possession clock resetting where Moore was able to get her stick on it first, scooping the ball into the net.

After Temple leveled the scored once again on a Sarah Gowman goal with 4:09, the Owls were able to secure the ensuring draw control, providing the visitors a chance for a potential winner. They were stymied by two Jaime Behar saves with 3:13 and 2:38 remaining, respectively. The Pirates' goalie was able to nab the loose ball after the second save herself and ECU's clear was successful.

That set up Wilkes, a decorated senior who had been almost entirely taken out of the game by the Temple defense. On the final offensive set for the Pirates, she proved her prowess at finding the timely moment, scoring a solo goal with 1:36 to play—a goal which proved to be the game winner.

Temple won the game's final draw control and had the ball with 96 seconds to play, needing a score to tie things up. ECU's defense stood tall. A full team effort, the Owls were turned away time and again. Behar had one final big moment with 38 seconds remaining, making her 12th save of the day.

The Owls pulled the ball in to give themselves a last-gasp attempt, but they were rejected once more. The ball came loose in the final seconds and the Pirates were able to push it out of the scoring area to see the clock to zero.

With the win, ECU has now won two in a row against Temple after losing the first seven of the series.

Up Next
The Pirates take on No. 1 North Carolina on Saturday at 12 p.m. in Chapel Hill.