Football Game Preview Carolinian
Saturday Sep, 6th East Carolina University’s football team (0-1, 0-0 American Conference) will take on Campbell University (0-1, 0-1 Coastal Athletic Association). The game will be played in Greenville at ECU’s very own Dowdy-Ficklen stadium.
Following last Thursday's loss to North Carolina State University (1-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) the Pirates will be looking to bounce back in their home opener. The Fighting Camels will also be looking for their first win after dropping one on the road to The University of Rhode Island (1-0, 1-0 CAA). Rhode Island is the 9th ranked team in FCS (Football Championship Subdivision).
Despite the loss to the Wolfpack, ECU had many bright
spots that they will hope to carry-over and build off of in this week's matchup. Offensively the passing game was in full effect, Sophomore quarterback Katin Houser threw for 366 yards and a touchdown.
The Pirates will be looking to get their two star receivers Senior Anthony Smith and Sophomore Yannick Smith more involved against the Fighting Camels. They combined for an underwhelming 100 yards last Thursday.
In terms of the rush game, there will need to be a lot of improvement if the Pirates are going to sustain success over the course of this challenging schedule. Thursday night East Carolina rushed for just 30 yards on 29 attempts. A one yard average per carry is amongst the worst FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision).
Defensively, despite letting up 24 points, the Pirates
exceeded expectations. ECU recorded 10 tackles for loss and a sack in Raleigh, making big play after big play at the line of scrimmage. East Carolina will look to continue to get better in coverage though after letting up 318 passing yards.
Senior Linebacker Dameon Wilson, Senior safety Tegan Wilk, and Sophomore safety Ja’Marley Riddle have emerged as the early leaders of the new Josh Aldridge Pirate defense. The game will be played Saturday Sep, 6th at 6:00 p.m. in Greenville at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+. It will also be available to listen to on 94.3 The Game.
Farm2Clinic has been recruiting East Carolina University volunteers to support programs that provide nutrition and health to medically under-served communities across rural Eastern North Carolina, according to Dr. Lauren Sastre. Dr. Sastre, Assistant Professor in the Department
of Nutrition Science, founded the Farm2Clinic initiative back in 2019.
With volunteering opportunities like assisting with food deliveries, serving as a Health Navigator, teaching assistant, and more, students combine leaving their mark on the community and gaining professional skills.
Farm2Clinic also partners with local clinics and farms to
address the problems in uninsured communities.
“Our mission is to improve the health of medically underserved communities across rural eastern North Carolina through improved healthy food access, food and health literacy education to build knowledge, skills, and capacity, and connections to healthcare,” said Dr. Sastre.
Rachel Tilley, graduate assistant for Farm2Clinic, emphasized the importance of student involvement. “ The navigator can be contacted via phone, text or email,” she explained. “The navigator is there to help answer questions, do checkins, and motivate the participant.”
A beneficial volunteering position is the Produce Delivery Tea and/or the Fresh Start Navigator Role. “Professionally, I think this volunteer position prepares students for many different interactions they may have with the public in future careers,” Tilley said. “I believe all students need to learn how to communicate with people professionally to prepare for post-college, no matter what your career path may be.”
ECU student, Kaylin Lisk, started her volunteering as a Fresh Start health navigator and moved her way to being a teaching assistant–as she is no longer in this position she reflects on it. “This experience is extremely valuable because of the people we are able to meet and interact with. They are an absolute joy to work with and seeing their improvements in health as the program progresses is unforgettable.”
Rachel Tilley expects great things for the future of Farm2Clinic. “I see F2C growing and expanding more to Eastern North Carolina within the next five years. As we grow, so will our impact and I only see improvements within the next five years for this program.”
Students interested in volunteering opportunities with Farm2Clinic can email Dr. Lauren Sastre at sastrel18@ecu. edu for more information.
Caleb
BRIEFS
Nutrition professor aims to boost the Gambia’s public health system with Fulbright scholarship
Dr. Toyin Babatunde, associate professor of nutrition science at East Carolina University, will travel to The Gambia in January as the college’s first Fulbright Scholar. Her six-month appointment at the University of The Gambia aims to strengthen public health education by tackling chronic diet-related diseases, particularly among women of childbearing age and children under 5.
Dr. Babatunde brings global experience from clinical work in Nigeria, Jamaica and the Bahamas, and academic training in Nigeria, Jamaica, and the U.S. Her journey into nutrition was personal, inspired by her father's struggle with diabetes. She has since focused her career on combating poor diets, responsible for increasing cardiometabolic risks and diseases like hypertension and heart disease.
Summary (AP style, 170 words):
Students in East Carolina University’s renowned Program in Maritime Studies gained hands on experience this summer exploring historical shipwrecks and archaeological sites along North Carolina’s waterways. One of only six programs worldwide offering a master’s in maritime studies, ECU provides students with immersive fieldwork opportunities that blend history, science and underwater exploration.
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
If you feel there are any factual errors in this newspaper, please contact editor@theeastcarolinian.com.
Legacy Hall Renovation is Still Underway
When you go to College Hill and spot the fencing surrounding Legacy Hall, you may be wondering what’s going on. The renovation of Legacy is a part of a plan that has been underway for over three months.
At the start of the summer, East Carolina University started its renovation on Legacy residence hall. The renovation is still underway three months later. According to WITN, the renovations are set to finish and be ready for
students in 2026.
In addition they note that the Vice Chancellor of Campus Living, Peter Groenendyk, said in May that this renovation will see the replacement of restroom, lobby, and elevator spaces as well as new furnishings and a new interior finish. All together this renovation will cost about $28.2 million dollars for the university.
Legacy Hall, a fixture of ECU, is one of the older halls at the university. It was constructed in 1960 under a different name, Aycock Hall.
This name was changed in 2016 after concerns of its namesake, Governor Charles B. Aycock's, controversial associations.
For almost 65 years, Legacy has been a home for many and is filled with the memories of ECU students from over the decades, and this new renovation is no different as its changes are forging a new path for this cornerstone of student life here at ECU.
writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.
CANDON JOHNSON I
Candon Johnson TEC STAFF
CANDON JOHNSON I THE EAST CAROLINIAN
sign in front of the renovations that are underway in front of Legacy Hall
CANDON JOHNSON I THE EAST CAROLINIAN
"Building a New Legacy" in front of the construction work.
OUR VIEW
Advice for ECU students
We, the editorial staff of The East Carolinian, believe that there are certain things that can improve your college experience.
College life comes with many distractions. Go to a frat party. Or two. But make sure you focus on the true purpose of you being in college: to get an education and further yourself both academically and professionally. Once again, a trip to Dirty Dans here and there will not hurt anyone (except maybe your sanity) but make sure to make it to class the next day. You’re investing thousands of dollars in your degree, so treat that with focus and try not to invest thousands of dollars into bars instead. Another piece of advice: the $10 bar cover really does add up.
The idea of networking may feel unnecessary or even scary: especially if you struggle with social anxiety. But it is extremely valuable. Everyone you meet can be a resource and it is important to recognize that and act accordingly. You never know when you might need someone to give you a hand. Don’t hesitate to talk to people and be open. Let people in easily and take those small steps that can help benefit you in the long run. Maybe that random guy in your dorm who seems a little off-putting will be the next Bill Gates: you truly never know.
We never would’ve predicted where we are today. Uncertainty is completely okay and normal. Trust that with time and effort, it will come together. Sometimes you just have to believe that the right things are waiting for you.
Most students don’t realize how many resources are right at their fingertips. Clubs, internships, career centers, counseling, health services, interest meetings, and social events are all designed to support your growth. Take advantage of them.
PIRATE RANTS
I don’t know why the student center parking went up. $1 is enough. There is no reason why we should even have to pay to park at a central school building.
No on campus job pays well. You’re better off just finding somewhere to work around Greenville.
Why is there constant construction on every street in Greenville? I have to take an entirely different route every month for absolutely no reason because the city wants to destroy and rebuild roads so often.
ECU Panhellenic allowing some sororities to do open house events while not broadcasting that opportunity to all of them is considered dirty rushing. It should have been communicated to all 11 sororities in order to keep recruitment fair, and not allow certain chapters to be put at an advantage.
The bars downtown are way too crowded. We need a way to limit the amount of students let inside.
Why are there no good food options in the student center? Maybe instead of Canes they could do something good like Chipotle or Cava. And there is no reason why Chick-fil-a should be so far away when it’s one of the most well-liked food options.
Mr. Beast, or Jimmy Donaldson, is one of the most powerful influencers in the world. With over a billion followers across all social media and over 400 million YouTube subscribers, he has become one of the most powerful people in the world. As the saying goes, “with great power comes great responsibility,” or inauthenticity in Mr. Beast’s case.
I have always known there was some fakeness in Mr. Beast’s case. All of his videos make him look like the coolest person ever. He flaunts his billions of dollars and for whatever reason constantly yells into the camera, which makes his videos seem more exciting to people. However, it is his constant need for validation that makes his inauthenticity appear.
I am writing this because of the controversy Mr. Beast found himself in this past week. Rolling Stone published a list titled “25 Most Influential Creators of 2025,” on which Mr. Beast was ranked number 7. Comedian Caleb Hearon was ranked number 6, and this did not sit well with Jimmy.
In reply to Rolling Stone’s post, Jimmy
wrote, “According to this list, a guy with 1 million followers is more influential than me. What did I do to piss off Rolling Stone?” Jimmy’s reply says so much about his character. Why is Jimmy so upset about a list like this? He is one of the most powerful influencers in the world; why is he so bothered by this list?
In his reply, Jimmy made sure to acknowledge Hearon’s number of followers. Jimmy made it seem like just because Hearon has way fewer followers than he does, Hearon has less influence, which is very wrong.
Caleb Hearon hosts one of the most popular progressive podcasts in the media. Hearon is known for his sharp wit about political figures. His wit has garnered him a big following and made him beloved by his fans and peers, who stuck up for him after Jimmy’s reply.
Other digital content creators reacted to Jimmy’s comments about his placement on the list. Content creator Rosanna Pasino, an outspoken critic of Jimmy in the past, said that his mask was slipping and even commented that Hearon has a personality, while Jimmy does not.
These reactions from fellow content
Since the rise of social media in the mid to late 2000’s and rise of short form content in the 2010’s, there has been a mass focus on the idea of personal branding. Almost everyone in the world has a personal social media account and each and every person has the ability to form and create their online image.
In today’s day and age there are millions of people who have been able to leverage their personal social media accounts and create a sustainable living for themselves. Some are even fortunate enough to create generational wealth for themselves and their families.
Stretched out through several platforms such as Tik Tok, Youtube, Snapchat, Instagram, X, and even live streaming platforms such as Twitch and Kick the possibilities are now endless for creators.
Despite having access to so many different platforms and types of content consumers are growing tired of the way social media and influencers are trending. Engagement rates are dropping for a very specific reason, a lack of trust.
As time has passed people across the globe are starting to become more media literate. This has made the general population more skeptical of the authenticity of the content they’re consuming.
Over the last few years we have seen influencers, television personalities, and celebrities alike get exposed for lying on their platforms. Oftentimes these lies will come in the form of portraying themselves in a certain way to appeal to their audience, promoting faulty products, scamming their audience through online currencies, and even faking situations in order to generate engagement.
The common connection in these lies is that they are all rooted in greed. Influencers have lost track of their original purpose which is to entertain and inspire the masses. They have drifted into this money hungry mindset, which makes sense especially in a capitalist country like The United States.
It is only human nature to aspire to make or take everything you can for yourself. We have seen it all across history with the Romans, the Germans, the Rockefellers, and many more. On the flip side, it is also human nature to seek the truth and to have authentic interactions.
That is why I believe there is a big change on the horizon within the next few years in this space. As I stated before, consumers are growing skeptical of influencers and searching for authenticity amongst all of the lies and their masks.
creators, many of whom made fun of his post, led him to delete the controversial post. He would then write a post calling Hearon funny and telling his critics to stop talking about him.
So instead of apologizing to Hearon for calling him out and saying that he did not deserve his spot on the list, Jimmy just wrote a jokey tweet that downplayed the controversy. This entire situation that Jimmy got himself involved in shows how inauthentic he is.
Instead of being the wealthy philanthropist who wants to help people, as he has showcased in his videos. Jimmy showed himself to be highly egotistical, deeply caring about how people see him.
There is no question that Jimmy has numerous good deeds in his videos. He has helped blind people see, planted 20 million trees, and given people so much money. However, are these acts out of the goodness of his heart, or is it just good marketing?
Dakota Hamm is a Sophmore and a TEC columnist. To contact him/her, email opinion@theeastcarolinian.
I believe there is going to be a push within consumers of content to seek out those who are authentic in their personalities, their message, and the products that they promote. People are becoming more media literate, and are growing tired of the lies and inauthenticity of influencers.
There are many ways in which this can be seen. The main one I see is the transition from mindless entertainment to motivational and spiritual content across all platforms. This type of content has become very popular over the last few years, but even here we must be skeptical of the people producing it.
In this multi-billion dollar industry it is important that we give the right people a platform. Invest in people who share a beneficial message and are able to authentically be themselves without using their platform to manipulate their viewers into making them more money. So ask yourself will you be a part of the change? Or will you continue to pour into these manipulative creators and their mindless content at the cost of your money, time, sanity, and intelligence?
made
Pirate Rants.
Arts & Entertainment
EVENTS
TODAY
Ayden Collard Festival
Ayden Downtown West Ave,
5:00
6:00
5th
7:00
5:00
NPHC’s annual Meet The Greeks event
Candon Johnson TEC STAFF
East Carolina University’s National PanHellenic Council is hosting its upcoming Meet the Greeks Event. The NPHC’s Meet the Greeks is an biannual opportunity that allows African American students to meet and possibly join one of the eight fraternities or sororities with the PanHellenic distinction.
The sororities that carry the NPHC designation are: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho.The fraternities that carry the NPHC designation are: Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi,
Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, and Iota Phi Theta.
In meeting the African American Greek organizations, students will have the opportunity to get to speak with the leaders and the members in order to foster a sense of community and hopefully lead to them becoming a new member of one of the groups.
“I think one of the biggest rewards with this event is just the fraternity and sorority life experience. It helps students find a place they belong,” said Cooper.
Associate Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Christopher Cooper has been on both sides of
this event. He was a student at ECU before taking his current position. This experience has informed the way he plans and organizes events like Meet the Greeks.
“It’s an opportunity for students to learn more about the Black Greek letter organizations,” said Cooper.
The event is set to take place at the Student Center Sunday, September 14th at 3 p.m. and its dress code is Professional/Business.
TOMORROW
80s Karaoke Night at Magnolia Arts Center Magnolia Arts Center 1703 E. 14th Street, Greenville, NC 27858
6:30 PM to 9:30 PM 888-622-3868
Downtown Greenville First Friday ArtWalk Downtown Greenville NC Greenville, NC 27858
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM 252-551-6947
SATURDAY
2025 Greek Bake Sale & Yard Sale
Holy Cross Holy Apostles
Greek Orthodox Church 5799 NC-33, Grimesland, NC 27837
8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Never Go Hungry with Purple Pantry
Since opening in 2018, the Williams-Ross Purple Pantry has helped decrease food insecurity for East Carolina University students. The pantry opened for the Fall 2025 semester on Sept. 2, and members of the ECU community can donate any food item or hygiene products to the pantry.
The Williams-Ross Purple Pantry is not needsbased, meaning any student with their 1 card can go into the pantry and get whatever they may need, whether it is food or hygiene products. The pantry is also available to students who live off campus with Swipe Out For Hunger.
Swipe Out For Hunger provides ECU students who live off campus with access to well-balanced meals from West End and Todd Dining Hall if they are suffering from food insecurity. The program allows students to have needed meals until they are able to gather resources for sustenance.
The Williams-Ross Pantry has two different locations as well as two mini pantries. One of the locations is in the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement. Another location for the WilliamsRoss Purple Pantry is the Health Science Student Center, along with two mini pantries across campus. One of the mini pantries is between the Mamie Jenkins building and Mendenhall, and the
second is outside Laupus Library on the Health Science Campus.
Many entities within ECU’s Division of Student Affairs work together to make the Williams-Ross Purple Pantry what it is today. This collaboration has made is possible for the Williams-Ross Purple Pantry has grown and expanded over the years.
The senior assistant director of the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement Alex Dennis said,“It started really just in a little closet and really spread from there to a physical space.”
Dennis said when the Main Campus Student
Center first opened in 2019, the Williams-Ross Purple Pantry was in the basement. This was until two years ago, when it moved into its current location.
The Williams-Ross Purple Pantry’s mission is to decrease food insecurity for ECU students. Since its opening in 2018, the pantry has helped over 1,000 visitors, thanks to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC and the Churches Outreach Network in Greenville.
Greenville Museum of Art, an establishment with over 80 years of experience within the community is offering an opportunity for new and emerging fashion designers looking to see their work showcased at their annual fundraiser. This fundraiser, Fashion on Display, will be hosted by WITN’s own Courtney Bunting and is set to take place at the museum on 802 South Evans St. on September 11th, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
There is no application fee when applying, the applicants must be available for a walkthrough on September 10th in addition to the event. The event itself is a runway show with local boutiques as well as the new designers who are accepted to showcase their portfolio.
Moreover, this opportunity isn’t only for designers though, if you’re a vendor looking to set up a pop up shop for the event apply at the GMoA website or by contacting the museum directly. Vendors will secure their
limited vendor space prior to the event.
The current vendors on the runway at the event are: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry, The Farmers Daughter, Gypsy Spirit Boutique, Jenni K, Miah Baby Co., Monkees, The Style Palette, and Thornbury Brides. The pop-up vendors are: Copper Ashes, Mor Jewelry and Charms, and Prescription for Style.
Tickets are available now and are $40 dollars for GMoA members and $50 for nonmembers. Tickets can be purchased at the GMoA website under the fashion on display section or by contacting the museum at info@ gmoa.org or (252) 758-1946.
The goal for this event is to inspire, educate, and connect the people of Greenville through the medium of visual arts. By attending, you are supporting a local scene in addition to artists and designers, making it possible for events like this to continue to provide a space for expression of creativity.
Classifieds & Puzzles
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
Jacqueline E. Mathews
The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events
Caleb Johnson TEC Sports Reporter
ECU VS. Campbell Score Prediction?
ECU 38-7
Why?
I fully expect the Pirates to handle business against Campbell. After a tough loss last week against NC State, arguably the easiest game on the schedule is coming at the perfect time. With lots to build off of both offensively and defensively, the Pirates will be looking to put it all together on home field.
Cannon Gates WZMB Station Manager
ECU VS. Campbell Score Prediction?
ECU 52-10
Why?
After a tough loss last week to the rival from Raleigh, I fully expect the Pirates to crush the Camels and come away with a big ime W. I need to see the run game step up especially in the trenches but our defense played so well last week and I’m calling a defensive TD. Give me a Katin Houser bomb to Anthony Smith!
WZMB
Nick Green
Sports
& News Director
ECU VS. Campbell Score Prediction?
ECU 56-10
Why?
Welcome to Dowdly Ficklen ladies and gentlemen. After a disappointing loss last week the Pirates are looking to make a big statement win over an in-state FCS opponent in Campbell. The Pirates showed they can compete both offensively and defensively with NC State so I think the Pirates will absolutely come to play this weekend and dominate.
Pirates Lost 17-24 Against NC State
The East Carolina football team nearly pulled off a dramatic finish against rival North Carolina State University (1-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), but the Pirates came up one yard short in a 24-17 season-opening loss Thursday night at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.
Down 17-0 early in the second quarter, ECU stormed back behind Sophomore starting quarterback Katin Houser, setting up one last chance to tie the game in the final minute.
On fourth-and-1 from the Wolfpack’s 9-yard line, Houser flipped a quick pass to sophomore tight end Desirrio Riles, but NC State’s senior cornerback Jamel Johnson met him immediately and shoved him out of bounds to seal the Wolfpack’s win.
“We were actually going to go for two if we punched it in,” ECU head coach Blake Harrell said. “They saw it coming, brought pressure, and we just couldn’t get across the line.”
The Wolfpack set the tone with a 15 play opening drive that ended in a short field goal. Sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey then added an 11-yard rushing touchdown and later connected with senior receiver Wesley Grimes
for a 48-yard score to push the lead to 17-0.
Grimes finished with a career-high 121 receiving yards, while Bailey threw for 318 yards and two total touchdowns. Freshman running back Hollywood Smothers added a 2-yard scoring run late in the third quarter for a 24-7 lead.
“This game was about getting our identity back and playing hard, tough, together football,” NC State head coach Dave Doeren said.
After a sluggish start that included four straight three-and-outs and a high snap that lost 23 yards, ECU finally struck with 2:21 left in the first half. Houser found senior tight end Jayvontay Conner streaking downfield for a 79-yard touchdown, igniting the Pirates sideline.
Junior defensive back Teagan Wilk added momentum with an interception on the next series, but a penalty and missed 53-yard field goal kept ECU down 17-7 at halftime. Houser, who set career highs with 30 completions for 366 yards, continued to spread the ball around to 10 different receivers. Freshman receiver Brock Spalding and Riles each hauled in six catches, while former Wolfpack wideout Anthony Smith added six more against his old team.
Men’s golf season preview
The East Carolina men’s golf team is set to tee off its 2025 season with a mixed lineup of returners and newcomers, competing in 11 events that include two home tournaments in both the fall and spring. The Pirates will open play Sept. 7-9 at the Myrtle Beach Golf Trips Intercollegiate before heading north to the Temple Invitational on Sept. 22-23 in Philadelphia, P.A. They’ll then return home for the Ironwood Collegiate Classic Sept. 29-30 at Ironwood Golf and Country Club in Greenville. The fall closes with the Elon Phoenix Invitational Oct. 13-14 and the ODU/Kilmarlic Challenge
in Kitty Hawk Oct. 26-28.
Head coach Kevin Williams said the schedule provides strong challenges and key chances to play in front of fans.
“Two things that were extremely important to us in scheduling,” Williams said. “One is the ability to host two home tournaments each year so our student-athletes can compete in front of friends and family. Secondly, providing tremendous golf courses for our team to compete on during the school year.”
The spring features a tough stretch in South Carolina with the Wexford Intercollegiate from Feb. 16-17 and the Cleveland Golf Palmetto Invitational from March 9-10. ECU will then host the ECU Intercollegiate at Brook Valley Country Club on March 16-17 before heading to Snow Hill for the Cutter
“We didn’t start fast, and that’s our motto on offense,” Houser said. “The defense gave us stops, especially in the red zone, but we’ve got to execute better.”
ECU trimmed the deficit in the fourth quarter. Senior running back Marlon Gunn Jr. scored on a 4-yard pitch to make it 24-14, and graduate student kicker Nick Mazzie later drilled a 34-yard field goal to bring the Pirates within a touchdown.
The defense kept the Wolfpack off the board with back-to-back missed field goals, giving Houser one last chance. He led the Pirates inside the 10 before the final fourthdown stop ended the rally. The Pirates made too many mistakes, finishing with 10 penalties, three failed fourth-down conversions, and just 30 rushing yards on 29 attempts.
“We’ve got to be able to run the football and win that battle, and we didn’t,” Harrell said. “That’s one of our main goals, and it cost us tonight.”
East Carolina returns to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for its home opener against Campbell University (0-1, 0-0 American Conference) on Sept. 6. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
East Carolina women’s soccer clash with Coastal Carolina
East Carolina heads on the road this Sunday for a nonconference clash with Coastal Carolina University (1-3, 0-0 Sun Belt Conference). The Pirates enter the game looking to build momentum after a slow start to the season, highlighted by a dominant 4–0 win at Virginia Commonwealth University (1-2-2 Atlantic 10 Conference) and a recent 1–1 draw against the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (3-1-2 Coastal Athletic Association).
The last time these two sides met was in Greenville, N.C. in August of 2024, when they battled to a scoreless draw. ECU created chances throughout the night, but Coastal’s defense and goalkeeper held firm to keep the Pirates off the board. ECU will be motivated to make a statement this time around considering Coastal has been a rival of the school for quite some time. Leading the way so far this year has been senior forward
Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram, who has already put her stamp on the early season. She exploded with a two-goal, one-assist performance in the win over VCU and added another goal in the draw against UNCW. Her ability to create and finish chances makes her the key player to watch as ECU tries to unlock Coastal’s defense. Along with her, ECU has shown depth in midfield, where quick passing and tempo control allow them to control games when they’re at their best. The defense, anchored by experienced returners, has been solid but will be tested again on the road after conceding late against UNCW.
Beyond the individual storylines, the bigger picture for ECU is defending their conference crown. The Pirates are coming off their first-ever American Athletic Conference title last season, capped by an overtime victory in the championship match. With that milestone now in the rearview, the team is hungry to prove it wasn’t a one-year wonder. Consistency in games like this one, on the road against a physical opponent will be crucial if ECU
wants to get into better position for themselves for another postseason run. Some Keys to the Match, for ECU, the key to get a victory starts with turning opportunities into goals. In last year’s meeting with Coastal Carolina, the Pirates created several chances but couldn’t deliver the goals to back it up, something they can’t afford to repeat this time around.
Controlling the midfield will also be crucial, as winning possession battles allows ECU to dictate the tempo and keep Coastal from settling into their defense. This matchup offers a chance for the Pirates to showcase their growth, avenge last season’s draw, and continue laying the ground for another playoff push. The game kicks off at 4 p.m. Sept. 7 in Conway, N.C., with the Pirates looking to get the season back on track.
Garett Skillman THE EAST CAROLINIAN
The East Carolina University football team played against rival team North Carolina State University at the Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.
Logan Harlow
Creek Intercollegiate on March 27-29. The regular season wraps up in Richmond, Va., with the Gile-Spratley Collegiate on April 6-7.
Garett Skillman TEC STAFF
ONLINE | FULL STORY
golf season preview schedule for this year,
