Gameday: Pirates Open Season Against George Mason | Eastern NC Now

    Publisher's note: This post appears here courtesy of the news and information section for East Carolina University men's and women's sports.



Game 1: George Mason (0-0-0) at ECU (0-0-0) Date: Thursday, August 22 Time: 7:00 p.m. (EDT) Location: Greenville, N.C. (Johnson Stadium) Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video


    GREENVILLE, N.C.     After finishing the preseason with an exhibition victory, the ECU women's soccer team will get the season underway on Thursday evening when the Pirates host George Mason.

    ECU will have high expectations this season after a 10-6-3 record in 2018 as well as a spot in the American Championship Semifinals. The Pirates were picked to finish fifth in the conference's preseason poll with Jayda Hylton-Pelaia being chosen as the league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. ECU has one tune-up match under its belt, having topped VCU 1-0 in an exhibition. 2018 leading scorer Jenna Dages grabbed the scrimmage's only goal, scoring a header off a corner kick by Erin Mikalsen.

    George Mason finished the 2018 season with a 14-6 overall record and reached the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Championship. The Patriots return 18 players and were selected to finish in third in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll. George Mason will rely on Emma van der Vorst who led the Atlantic 10 in goals (14) and points (32) last season on the way to being named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. The Patriots also bring back Morgan Symmers who went 12-4 in the goal, making 45 saves and allowing 1.22 goals per game.

    ECU is just 3-8-0 all-time against George Mason, although the Pirates have a 2-2-0 home record against the Patriots. The two teams have met just three times since ECU left the CAA following the 2000 season, with ECU winning in both 2014 and 2015 while George Mason won 2-1 last season. Dages opened the scoring in that loss, but the Patriots answered just seven minutes later and then scored the winner in the 57th minute.

    Thursday night will be the first time since the 2017 campaign that ECU has opened the season with a home game. In season openers, the Pirates are 11-13-1 all-time in their history while they are 17-8 in home openers, including a 5-1 triumph over Radford last season.

    Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., on Thursday night inside Johnson Stadium. Admission is free for all fans. Those who cannot make it to Johnson Stadium can watch the live stream HERE or follow the live stats HERE.