Pirates takes on Army WestPoint Carolinian
East Carolina heads into this matchup looking for a bounce back win as they prepare to face Army West Point (1-2, 0-1 American Conference). The Pirates have shown some positive flashes at times this season, but putting together four full quarters has been the biggest struggle. The teams last met a season ago, where Army defeated East Carolina 45-28 while being ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll at the time.
Army is known for their unique style of play, and it’s something that always makes them tough to prepare for. Unlike most opponents on ECU’s schedule, Army runs an option offense that relies almost entirely on the ground game. They keep the ball on the ground, string together long drives, and control the tempo. That style of football limits possessions and keeps the defense on the field for extended stretches.
This means defenders have to play smart, keep gap control, and avoid overcommitting. One missed assignment or blown tackle can easily turn into a huge gain for Army. ECU has been able to create turnovers this season, and forcing a fumble or picking off a rare pass attempt could completely change momentum.
On the offensive side, ECU’s biggest challenge to start this season has been making the most of every opportunity and converting those third downs in the red zone. Against a team like Army, there aren’t going to be as many possessions as in a normal game due to their style of play. Wasting drives with three-and-outs or turnovers could put the Pirates in a deep hole quickly.
So far this season, we’ve seen head coach Blake Harrell splitting snaps between junior running back Parker Jenkins, sophomore running back London Montgomery, and senior running back Marlon Gunn Jr. The offensive line will play a major role in both protecting the quarterback and creating lanes on the ground for the running backs as they’ve had a statistically slow start to the season.
Finishing drives with points will be a big point of emphasis. Field goals won’t always cut it in games like this, so capitalizing in the red zone will be important. Army’s defense is typically tough and disciplined, but ECU has enough playmakers to put pressure on them if they can stay on schedule and avoid negative plays.
Special teams could also swing the game in a major way. In a matchup where field position is critical, making sure ECU gets points on the field if stopped short could be the difference against a historically tough and gritty Army football team. A clean performance from that unit could be the difference between a close contest and a long night.
Army’s style of play forces teams into uncomfortable situations, and frustration can set in quickly if the game drags into the fourth quarter. For ECU, some key points of emphasis could be staying patient, not pressing, and trusting their game plan. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at home in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, N.C. for military appreciation night.
Days away from starting his freshman year at East Carolina University, Maksym Kuropas experienced an accident while doing his summer job. The outcome was a spinal injury that made walking, writing, and other everyday actions a difficult road to travel. This affected everything for him; it left him in a place of uncertainty about his future.
According to Kuropas, his first feeling was fear. Would he return to ECU? Would he still be able to achieve his dream of attending medical school? Where would he go from here?
"Instead of starting my freshman year, I ended up having to go home and start intense rehabilitation," said Kuropas.
In the wake of a traumatic brain injury, Kuropas found hope in the form of a resident at his rehabilitation doctor's appointment who had gone through a similar injury. This inspired Kuropas and helped him set his goal of making it back to a stable place mentally and physically. It also helped create his dream of helping people and making a difference for those who had been through similar incidents.
It wasn't an easy fight, though, as Kuropas had to go through an intensive therapy to get where he is today as a Pre-Med student as well as a Chancellor's Fellow and an advocate for patients with spinal cord injuries. Years later, Kuropas with the help of
mentors, like his Pre-med Advisor V. Elizabeth McAllister, has continued his studies at ECU. He also found a way of helping those who have experienced similar injuries as him: Silver Linings.
"After seeing the Unmasked project and hearing stories of people like me, I always wondered what happened next. There's got to be a part two to this. What happens to these people after they can overcome what happened to them?" said Kuropas.
Silver Linings is an initiative that utilizes an aspect within Kuropas's own rehabilitation that helped him: art. According to Kuropas, the project initially started as reaching out to support groups in the hopes of allowing the members to customize the lenses of a pair of silver glasses in order to represent what survivors see the world as and what their stories of hope and perseverance are as well as words of encouragement for other survivors.
Now, after countless prototypes of the idea with the help of his other mentor Gabriela, Kuropas's goal has become a reality. Kuropas's goal now is to bring this initiative to different support groups in order to allow the members to take part in this initiative.
"It's all about that feeling of community. You aren't alone, and it's important to remember that and be able to channel it into something positive," Kuropas said.
Harlow TEC STAFF
Candon Johnson TEC STAFF
BRIEFS
Internship program fuels growth and success
East Carolina University’s SECU Public Fellows Internship program wrapped up a successful summer, placing 20 undergraduates with organizations across 12 eastern North Carolina counties. The program gave students hands-on experience in local governments, nonprofits and educational institutions while supporting community priorities.
Senior Lauryn Strothers worked with Washington County officials on economic development policies, while Madison Hruska gained project management and marketing skills at East Carolina Vocational Center. Students left with clearer career goals and stronger professional skills, while host sites benefited from fresh perspectives and much-needed support.
Thriving in times of change: Reconnecting to humanity
East Carolina University hosted anthropologist and futurist Sam Rad on Sept. 11 as part of the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences’ Voyages of Discovery series. Rad focused on reconnecting to humanity amid the rise of artificial intelligence and social media.
She encouraged critical thinking, creativity and discernment as key tools for navigating what she called the “age of acceleration.” Rad highlighted five building blocks for adapting to rapid change: full body leadership, cognitive security, psychological safety, intuition and trust.
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
If you feel there are any factual errors in this newspaper, please contact editor@theeastcarolinian.com.
Trump’s lawsuit against Times thrown out
According to APNews, after filing a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, a U.S. District Judge in Florida Steven Merryday tossed out President Donald Trump’s case citing the lawsuit as overly long with “tedious and burdensome language.” President Trump as been given 28 days to refile, however the new complaint cannot exceed forty pages.
This lawsuit came after the president sued ABC News and CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” both of which were settled out of court. The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch were sued by the president in July after a story was published about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump’s legal team is planning to continue the lawsuit “in accordance with the judge’s direction on logistics,” spokesman
Aaron Harison told APNews. Berryman said the defamation case is not seen in the lawsuit until page 80. The lawsuit also brings up President Trump’s work on “The Apprentice” and an “extensive list” of his media appearances.
The lawsuit named four New York Times journalists and cited a book, along with three articles published two months before the last election. The New York Times described the lawsuit to APNews as “meritless” and “an attempt to discourage independent reporting.”
A book and an article written by New York Times reporters Russ Buettner and Susanne Craig were named in the lawsuit. The book and article focused on the president’s finances and his role in “The Apprentice.” “They maliciously peddled the fact-free narrative,” President Trump said in the lawsuit, about TV producer Mark Burn-
nett turning the president into a celebrity.
“Even though at and prior to the time of publications, defendants knew that President Trump was already a mega-celebrity and an enormous success in business,” the lawsuit said.
An article by Peter Baker last Oct. titled “For Trump, a Lifetime of Scandals Heads Toward a Moment of Judgement,” is also cited by President Trump in the lawsuit. A piece by Michael S. called “As Election Nears, Kelly Warns Trump Would Rule Like a Dictator,” where he interviews President Trump’s chief of staff from his first term, John Kelly, is cited in the lawsuit as well.
The Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement and Pirates Vote are hosting their first Dinner and Discourse for the semester tomorrow night from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Black Box Theater in the Main Campus Student Center.
Various forms of media will be used to drive discussions and a safe space will be created for all individuals with unique experiences with the topics at hand.
There will be two other dinner and discourse events on Oct. 21 and Nov. 18, with the topics
scheduled to be announced through Pirate Experience a week prior. The menu for the Oct. 21 Dinner and Discourse event will include Olive Garden, while the menu for the Nov. 18 event will include Firehouse Subs.
The topics for tomorrow’s Dinner and Discourse will include political violence and division. A Chick-fil-A dinner will be provided as well.
Anyone interested in attending must RSVP on the Pirates Vote page through Pirate Experience.
October is a key month for Social Security beneficiaries, who can begin planning their finances for next year once the official costof-living adjustment (COLA) is announced. That income adjustment determines the 2026 monthly payment for retirees, spouses and survivors of retirees, and low-income individuals who participate in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.
But the biggest change starting in October for retired beneficiaries stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in March to save administrative costs and reduce fraud and identity theft. Starting in October, Social Security paper checks will no longer be issued, which could delay or interrupt payments to beneficiaries who do not act in time.
September was the last month paper checks were mailed. To receive the October payment on time, beneficiaries should act quickly and choose direct deposit of their Social Security benefits to their bank account. The change can be made through your MySocialSecurity online account. If you don’t have a bank account, you can request Direct Express, a debit card on which the federal government will deposit your benefits. It can be requested at 1-877-874-6347.
How much will the COLA increase be?
The official COLA announcement is made on Oct. 15, after the consumer price figures for wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) for July, August and September are available; those months are averaged to calculate the annual inflation rate. Projections for the 2026 COLA are around 2.7%, which would mean about $54 more per month on average in retirees’ checks, with retirees beginning to receive the increase in January. SSI beneficiaries receive their increase in December because Jan. 1 is a holiday.
A considerable portion of the Social Security income adjustment from COLA will be offset by an increase in the Medicare Part B premium, which is automatically deducted from benefit payments. The exact figure won’t be known until later in the fall, but the Medicare board of trustees estimates an increase of $21.50, meaning retirees would pay $206.20 per month in 2026.
SSI beneficiaries will receive two payments in October: on the 1st and the 31st. The second is an advance of the payment for the following month because Nov. 1 falls on a Saturday.
Increase in Social Security full retirement age
Another important change affecting Social
Security beneficiaries in 2025 is that the full retirement age rose to 67 for those born in 1960 or later.
This change is part of the gradual increase in the full retirement age (FRA) established by the 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act, enacted in response to longer life expectancies and the need to maintain the program’s financial solvency.
People born before 1960 can claim full retirement benefits in 2025, while those born after who turn 65 this year must wait until 2027 to receive their full retirement benefits.
Workers can retire early at 62, but that
results in a 30 percent reduction in their retirement income.
With the threat that Social Security funds could be exhausted by 2032, changes are needed so older adults who rely solely on Social Security do not face a crisis.
One measure the Trump administration could take is raising the full retirement age further, a possibility already mentioned by officials such as Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano.
Another would be increasing the maximum taxable earnings cap—the limit above which Social Security taxes stop being applied—which is $176,100 for 2025. That figure is adjusted annually to keep pace with average wages. Earnings above this cap are not subject to Social Security tax and are not included in benefit calculations.
Restrictions in several states on buying certain foods with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could also affect Social Security beneficiaries starting in January 2026. In Florida, SNAP benefits loaded on an EBT card cannot be used to buy sugary drinks like sodas and energy drinks, candy, or prepared desserts.
President Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against the New York Times was thrown
Dakota Hamm TEC STAFF
Dakota Hamm TEC STAFF
COURTESY OF EAST CAROLINA Dinner & Discourse creates a safe space for dialogue about current events through multimedia.
Sarah Moreno FOR THE MIAMI HERALD (TNS)
Arts & Entertainment
6:00
ECU Fall Job and Internship Fair returns
Candon Johnson TEC STAFF
ECU’s 2025 Job and Internship fair begins this week. The fair is from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on September 24th at Greenville Convention Center.
The fair is held twice-a-year and allows students to speak with potential employers and mentors that will help them grow and succeed before or after they complete their tenure at ECU. Students only need their resume, along with an optional cover letter, and to arrive prepared to conversate.
According to Susanne Venson, Assistant Director of Career Development for ECU, the Job and Internship fair is a big event with lots of planning. “It takes months and months of planning. This day is like our super bowl so it’s a lot of teamwork and collaboration,” she said.
Venson is in charge of marketing and setting up for the fair. She expressed that the best, and most rewarding, part of this event is being able to
help students, and provide a place for them to start their future careers.
The experience itself is a joint operation between Career Services and Career Development, as well as Employer Relations planning differing aspects of the fair. Career Development’s job is making sure students are prepared going into the fair. “My office, Career Development, assists students and makes sure they put their best professional foot forward before they come,” said Venson.
On the other side of operations, Employer Relations, are focused on organizing the employers present at the event. During the fair, there will be all manner of representatives from companies like T.A. Loving Company, Insight Global, First Citizens Bank, and more.
According to Venson, it’s all about stepping out of your comfort zone. She explained how taking that step to introduce yourself to someone who you
could be working for in the future is crucial, and shows that you are both professional and ready to take that next step.
The Career Development office also provides help for students when crafting cover letters and resumes, along with free headshots. All these factors show just how much ECU values both its students and the employers that come out ready to recruit.
“The fair would not be what it is without the students and employers, they are our main focus. Employers come excited to recruit students because of the level of professionalism that they know they are getting and students come hopeful and ready to take the next step in their professional journey.” Venson said.
Laws
political violence
Spurred by the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, North Carolina lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a bill defining political violence as a new crime with higher consequences, potentially including the death penalty.
“(If) you commit political violence in this state, you will not walk free again,” the bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Brenden Jones, said. “Let me be clear, this is our turning point. This is where we decide if we want to win the right to speak or surrender to fear.”
The bill passed the House 105-6, with several members of House Democrats’ progressive caucus voting against it.
The bill, Senate Bill 13 would define a “politically motivated act of violence” as a crime in which the offender targets another person because of their “perceived political beliefs, viewpoints, affiliations, party membership, advocacy, candidacy for public office, voting history, participation in lawful political demonstrations, or public expression on political issues.”
Defendants found to have engaged in political violence would be sentenced at a higher felony level and would be ineligible for parole or early release.
The bill would also allow juries to consider political violence as an aggravating circumstance when recommending the death penalty and would authorize judges to consider the death penalty even if the defendant pleads guilty.
In addition to Kirk’s murder, Jones also noted the assassination attempts on President Donald Trump and the assassination of Democratic Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman.
“This is definitely not about parties; it’s not about Democrats, it’s not about Republicans,” Jones said. “It’s about protecting free speech.”
Several Democrats lamented the fact that the bill did not go further by establishing protections against hate crimes, a proposal Democratic lawmakers have filed multiple times over the years, but that Republicans have never taken up.
“We should not tolerate violence of any kind,” Rep. Deb Butler, a New Hanover County Democrat, said. “But we could have talked about targeting people for their race or ethnicity. We could have talked about national origin, religion, disability, gender or sex, sexual orientation ... so I think it’s an opportunity missed.”
Butler voted in favor of the bill, but Rep. Maria Cervania, a Wake County Democrat who sponsored an unsuccessful amendment to address race and gender-motivated crimes, did not.
“We must make a clear statement from the General Assembly that we stand on the side of safety,” Cervania said. “So passing this bill, unfortunately, it would have been better with the amendment and would have made it a more substantial and a comprehensive bill.”
Opinion
OUR VIEW
We, the editorial staff of The East Carolinian, believe that there is too much political division and hatred in the country. It doesn’t matter what party you support or what sports team you support, there is no room for violence in disagreement.
It seems now more than ever, there is so much tension in not only politics, but what opinion you have on certain topics that are seen as controversial. In recent years it feels like division has become louder than unity. Whether it’s politics, social issues, or even sports, people are too quick to draw a line before attempting to find common ground.
Our country was built on compromise and democracy, and as of lately, the staff of The East Carolinian is seeing that slowly disappear. Unity doesn’t mean that we have to agree or even think alike on issues, but it does mean the willingness to listen and respect one another. When we lose sight of the fact that we can come together and talk about what we believe, it stops opening the door to potential unity.
The call for unity doesn’t ignore the differences that are among each other, but it does acknowledge them without violence or hatred. A more unified country is able to figure out pressing challenges that affect our everyday life. A divided country sends a message of instability to the rest of the world.
Political or not political, the country and even world need more unity, or else we believe that we could be going down the wrong path.
PIRATE RANTS
During a White House press conference on Monday, President Donald Trump made claims that when the popular painkiller Tylenol is used by pregnant women there are links to autism.
Trump used research from a study done by Harvard University’s Chan School of Public Health from last month to back his claim. The studies included 46 separate cases in which 27 identified a positive link between acetaminophens or “Tylenol”.
Researchers that worked on the study claimed that steps should be taken to limit the use of the drug by pregnant women but that it was still necessary for managing pain and fevers.
A separate study published in 2024 by the National Library of Medicine found no link between the drug and autism. The study looked at 2.4 million children born between 1995 and 2019 in Sweden.
Leading medical spokespeople and organizations quickly came out and rebuked Trump’s claims. The European Medical Agency said “available evidence has found no link between the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism.”
The World Health Organization spokesperson Tarik Jašarević said “there were some observational studies that have suggested a possible association between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen, but the evidence remains inconsistent.” He also said “several studies done after that have found no such relationship. So this lack of replicability calls for caution in drawing casual conclusions about the role of acetaminophen in autism.”
Some would argue that Tylenol is a necessary drug when a woman is pregnant. It is common for women to be in pain and have fevers during pregnancy and when those things are not managed it can be detrimental to the baby’s health.
In my opinion I find this whole thing to be very odd. Why would the president come out and make such bold claims with not much to stand on in terms of evidence?
With everything that is going on in the world and in our country at this moment, it begs the question why is this so important?
The answer is simply that it is not.
With everything going on regarding the Charlie Kirk murder, ICE raids, Israel and Palestine, and Russia in eastern Europe you would think that he would have his hands full. Apparently, he does not, and that is a scary thought.
To me this seems to be another ploy to scare the American people and keep them occupied
while the Trump administration makes moves behind the scenes.
Yes, overtime autism rates in the United States have risen. A study from Johns Hopkins University shows that for every 31 eight year olds one has autism. A nearly 300% increase over the last 20 years.
According to the same study this is largely due to the broadening of the definition of autism, making it more applicable to more people. Along with the advancement of screening techniques and awareness of the symptoms amongst society.
This further proves my point that this is not one of the massive issues at hand in the United States. In my opinion this is not something that the president should be focused on putting out into the media or handling. Especially with the lack of research to support his claim.
The fact that this is the story making national headlines this week, instead of the United States making moves to fix the bigger issues at hand, displays how susceptible we are to manipulation by our government and the mismanagement of this administration so far. This country is divided and our enemies are growing more powerful. Something must change.
I am so tired of the police officers in College Hill. Every morning I leave my dorm and they’re parked IN THE SIDEWALK. They’re just lounging around doing jack. Every night I come back from the library, and the blue and red lights are flashing. I’m from out of state, and the cops back at home aren’t nearly as audacious as these NC police. Please get them out of the sidewalks, sincerely a College Hill resident.
I am tired of the constant construction EVERYWHERE. I understand that this school is old but come on. Like for example legacy and how 300 students had to be put on a waitlist.And also over there by howell science building caused us to have to walk in a narrow path through the trees.Also it makes no sense how it takes 500 days to work in one area.
Student store prices are insane. $110 for a polo is ridiculous. The water out of the water fountains in the rec center tastes awful. Electric scooters need to be banned from campus. I’ve almost been hit so many times while walking.
Jimmy Kimmel getting suspended might not sound like a big deal at first, late-night shows rotate through drama all the time—but this situation feels different.
After Kimmel made comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel off the air indefinitely. That move created a storm of arguments about whether this was holding him accountable or flat-out censorship. Honestly, both sides have a point, and that’s what makes this so messy. During his monologue, Kimmel said, “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk,” and added that “the MAGA gang” was “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.” Those lines set off the firestorm, with critics crushing him for making political accusations before the facts were fully clear.
I will start with the free speech side of things. Kimmel is a comedian and a latenight host. His whole job is to comment on what’s happening in politics and culture, often with a sharp or sarcastic edge. Plenty of hosts before him have said things that offended people like Jon Stewart, Colbert, even Letterman back in the day. Supporters say Kimmel was doing what he’s supposed to do: take the news and spin it into something worth talking about. The bigger concern is how quickly government pressure and affiliate backlash seemed to influence ABC’s decision. When the FCC chair comes out swinging, calling the comments “mis-
leading” and hinting at consequences, it’s easy to see why people call this censorship. If politicians can pressure networks into shutting down certain voices, that’s a real problem for free speech.
On the flip side, though, there’s the issue of responsibility. Kimmel made those comments while facts about the Kirk shooting were still unclear. Critics argue that he jumped to conclusions and essentially used a tragedy as political ammo before anyone even knew the full story. That’s not just bad taste, it’s dangerous when you have a platform reaching millions. From ABC’s perspective, and especially from station owners in conservative markets, airing that kind of content could anger viewers and advertisers. At the end of the day, a TV show is also a business, and if the product starts losing people or creating legal headaches, the network is going to step in. Free speech doesn’t mean freedom from consequences, and Kimmel is now facing those consequences.
What this whole controversy really exposes is the line between censorship and accountability. Should networks have the right to pull programming they feel crosses a line? Of course. But should government agencies like the FCC be weighing in on a comedian’s monologue? That feels like a step too far. Even if you think Kimmel was wrong, it’s hard to ignore the effect this could have. If every host has to worry that political leaders might take their show for an unpopular joke or opinion, then latenight comedy as we know it won’t survive.
Personally, I think both things can be
true: Kimmel probably spoke too soon and too harshly, but the response went overboard. ABC could have issued a statement, aired a clarification, or even suspended him briefly without making it look like the government had a hand in shutting him down. Instead, it’s turned into a free speech debate that’s bigger than Kimmel himself. Whether you love him or can’t stand him, this situation matters because it shows how fragile the balance is between saying what you want and keeping your platform. Thankfully Kimmel has now been reinstated so it looks like we are reaching an end to this whole situation.
COURTESY OF TRIBUNE
Jimmy Kimmel at a gala in Las Vegas Nevada.
Caleb Johnson TEC STAFF
Classifieds & Puzzles
Jacqueline E. Mathews
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events
Garett Skillman TEC Sports Editor
ECU VS. ASU
Score Prediction?
ECU 35-24
Why?
After a disappointing loss to BYU, I fully believe the Pirates open conference play with a win against Army. Last season’s ranked Army team isn’t the same team as this year. The Pirate’s offense has surprised everyone to start this season and has mostly held up other than BYU. Katin Houser isn’t gonna make the same mistakes as he did last Saturday and I believe in our offense enough to put up points against a tough and gritty Army team.
ECU VS. ASU Score Prediction?
ECU 20-13
Why?
I think the Pirates will get their first conference win on Thursday. After a rough outing against BYU, ECU will need to bounce back and get in the win column again. Despite struggling against the service academy and their triple option offense in the past, I think the Pirate’s defense holds true. Army has struggled to start the season but has been in every game they’ve played. This won’t be a walk in the park but Coach Harrell and the guys will get the job done.
Nick Green
WZMB Sports & News Director
ECU VS. ASU Score Prediction?
ECU 24-17
Why?
What’s better than Thursday night football in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium? How about a win in Dowdy! The Pirates are coming off a loss to BYU for a short week against Army. Historically eCU has been really bad against the triple option but I believe our defense will be ready. Give me the Pirates to win a defensive battle and start conference play 1-0.
Saturday night, East Carolina University football (2-2, 0-0 American Conference) hosted Brigham Young University (3-0, 0-0 Big 12 Conference) and suffered a 34-13 defeat. Nearly 50,000 fans filled Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for parents weekend and one of the biggest games on ECU’s 2025-2026 Schedule. Along with the large turnout, ECU shot off fireworks and had a military fly over with F-15 fighter jets following the national anthem to add to the atmosphere. By kickoff at 7:30 Pirate fans were still struggling to enter the stadium due to the crowd size.
ECU Soccer Falls to South Florida
The East Carolina University Women’s soccer team (3-4-2) suffered a 1-0 defeat to the University of South Florida (6-4-0) in Tampa Bay, Florida on Thursday. After four consecutive losses following an opening day victory, USF rattled off five consecutive wins and gave the Pirates their first loss among conference opponents this season.
Although it may not show on the scoreboard, the South Florida Bulls dominated this game from start to finish allowing ECU to have just five shots with two being on goal in comparison to USF’s 19 shots with eight being on goal. The game got off to a quick start with the Bulls generating an opportunity to score within the first minute.
Their first shot on goal was saved by Pirate junior goalkeeper Olivia Dietrich,
her first of seven saves on the day. The next good opportunity came in the ninth minute which resulted in the only goal of the game by USF junior midfielder/forward Yui Suetsugu, assisted by senior forward/midfielder Gentiana Fetaj.
ECU’s first chance to score came in the 16th minute on a shot from sophomore midfielder AJ Mayock which was saved by Bulls redshirt freshman goalkeeper Gaby Rourke. USF dominated the rest of the half not allowing the Pirates to even get a shot off until after the 45th minute.
The second half was more of the same for both teams, with the Bulls being stout defensively and generating many opportunities to score. The Pirates couldn’t break through the defense of USF and were unable to put a ball in the back of the net.
A shot by the Bulls in the 50th minute was
saved by Dietrich who did her best to keep ECU within a goal.
The Pirates last shot on goal came in the 61st minute when a shot by senior midfielder Isabella Gutiérrez was saved by Rourke. After this, USF controlled possession for the majority of the game and were able to secure a 1-0 victory. The Lady Pirates now sit at 3-4-2 on the season with hopes of winning the American conference in backto-back seasons.
The Pirates wwill look to bounce back on Sunday, Sept. 28, when they travel to Denton, Texas to take on the University of North Texas (4-6-1). If you want to watch this game, it will be streaming on ESPN+ with kickoff set at 2:00 PM. Thursday,
The Pirates received the ball on the opening kickoff and turned the ball over on downs on their first drive of the game. This set the Cougars up just outside of mid-field on their own 41 yard line. They went on to kick a field goal for the first score of the game and a three to zero lead.
Late in the first quarter, Sophomore running back London Montgomery ripped off a 33 yard rush to set the pirates up inside the BYU’s 25 yard line. The Pirates were unable to punch the ball in for a touchdown on their redzone chance. They kicked a field goal to tie the game three to three at the end of the first quarter.
The Cougars received the ball first in the second quarter following the ECU field goal. They were able to drive down the field and kick another field goal giving themselves a six to three lead. The Pirates, with their next chance, ripped off a promising six play 69 yard drive. With the ball on second down and goal from the Cougars six yard line, Junior quarterback Katin Houser threw an interception, the first turnover for either team on the night.
Defensively ECU went on to come up with a much needed stop forcing BYU to punt the football. After a big punt from the Cougars, the Pirates were pinned back on their own one yard line with just 56 seconds to play. On first and ten, Houser threw his second interception of the game. This time it was returned for a BYU touchdown giving them a two score, 13-6 lead going into half time.
In the third quarter, the Cougars following an ECU punt, put up an explosive two play 47 yard drive resulting in a touchdown giving them a 20-6 lead. After the touchdown, the Pirates came up with a 14 play drive in which they kicked another field goal, bringing the game within two scores at 20-9.
BYU opened the fourth with their third touchdown of the game giving them a sizable
27-6 lead. The Pirates then answered back with a touchdown of their own with a Houser rush, their first of the game. The Cougars scored one more touchdown in the fourth quarter which marked the final score of 34-13.
Following the game Head Coach Blake Harrell said, “Hat’s off to BYU and their coach staff, their players, a pretty good football team there, and they got the job done tonight, and we did not. Obviously, that starts with me.” Harrell also went on to say, “Also would like to thank the fans. I mean, from the Pirate Walk to just how the stadium was set up and people packing that thing out, that’s how this place is supposed to look, and that’s what makes this place special. And thank you to those folks. I apologize that we didn’t get it done tonight.” The Pirates will open up American Conference play Thursday night against Army Westpoint (1-2, 0-1 American Conference). The game will be played at 7:30 p.m. in Greenville at Dowdy-Ficklen stadium. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN, you can listen live on 94.3 FM The Game.
East Carolina University women’s soccer team huddles together before the loss against conference opponent the University of South Florida.
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium packed full of nearly
Caleb Johnson
Sports Reporter