Pirates tabbed fourth; Three named to American Conference soccer watch list

ECU soccer has been chosen to finish fourth in the American Conference this season, according to information provided on Tuesday.

Below is more details from ECU Sports Information.

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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information)

By ECU Sports Information

IRVING, Texas – The East Carolina soccer team has been chosen fourth in the American Conference as they prepare to defend their 2024 tournament title, the league announced on Tuesday. Additionally, Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram, Isabella Gutiérrez and Juliana Viera were named to the American Soccer Watch List.

The Pirates were one of three teams to receive a first-place vote with preseason favorite Memphis garnering six first-place nods and South Florida receiving four. Rice was chosen third in the league with the Pirates just edging out North Texas to finish fourth in the preseason voting.

 

The team will be in an unfamiliar position as the defending champion in 2025, looking to hold onto their title with a dramatically different roster and a new identity under first-time head coach Emily Buccilla. Following the departure of nine graduating players as well as several transfers, the Pirates bring in nine new players of their own with five rookies and four transfers. The team will look to lean on returning veterans and incoming talent alike to find a winning recipe.

 

Part of that veteran talent is the trio named to the preseason Watch List.

 

Dolan Boodram, a sophomore from London, England, scored three goals a season ago while appearing in 20 games. She proved to be a dangerous figure from her forward position with uncommon technical skill for her relative youth and the ability to strike from distance. After being named to the conference All-Freshman team a season ago, she’ll be looking for more in 2025 and figures to be a scoring threat any time she steps on the pitch.

 

Gutiérrez, a senior by way of Guadalajara, Mexico, will look to continue what has been a roller coaster of an ECU career. Though she’s battled injuries, she’s also proven to be a dangerous scorer and creator with multiple goals and assists in her time in Purple and Gold, including a memorable goal with just 107 seconds on the clock to steal a draw against UAB last season.

 

Viera, a senior from Montevideo, Uruguay, is coming off of a notable summer in which she competed with the Uruguayan National Team at the 2025 Copa América Femenina, even scoring a goal and recording an assist in the third-place game to conclude the team’s historic run. With the Pirates, Viera has been a defensive stalwart, while her skill as a passer has made her a dangerous player on set pieces, something fans can expect to continue in 2025. Notably last season, Viera scored the game-deciding PK in the shootout win over South Florida in the American semifinals.

 

Both Gutiérrez and Viera have been named team captains for the 2025 season.

 

Preseason Poll

1. Memphis (6) – 96
2. South Florida (4) – 94
3. Rice – 76
4. East Carolina (1) – 64
5. North Texas – 63
6. Tulsa – 48
7. UAB – 47
8. UTSA – 38
9. Florida Atlantic – 36
10. Charlotte – 33
11. Temple – 10

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Preseason Watch List

Abbey Burns, Sr., M, UAB

Louise Larsson, So., D, UAB

Jette Zimmer, Sr., F, UAB

Amelia Brown, Sr., M, Charlotte

Evie Craven, Jr., F, Charlotte

Laura Cate, Westerbeek, Sr., D, Charlotte

Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram, So., F, East Carolina

Isabella Gutiérrez, Sr., M, East Carolina

Juliana Viera, Sr., F, East Carolina

Daniella Diaz, Sr., D, Florida Atlantic

Michelle Horan, Sr., F, Florida Atlantic

Morgan McDonald, Sr., M/F, Florida Atlantic

Ashley Henderson, Jr., F, Memphis

Ai Kitagawa, So., M, Memphis

Finley Lavin, Jr., D/M, Memphis

Mia Bernard, Jr., M, North Texas

Abi Major, Sr., D, North Texas

Rachel Roebuck, Gr., F/D, North Texas

Eileen Albers, Jr., M, Rice

Leah Chancey, Gr., M, Rice

Lilly Reuscher, So., D, Rice

Gentiana Fetaj, Sr., F/M, South Florida

Leire Herraez Gallach, Sr., GK, South Florida

Sadie Sider-Echenberg, Sr., M, South Florida

Shari Atkins, Jr., F, Temple

Valentina Bitterwolf, Fr., M, Temple

Teagan Harkins, Fr., F, Temple

Jasmine Kessler, Jr., GK, UTSA

Zoe May, Sr., M, UTSA

Michelle Polo, Jr., M, UTSA

Aniya Facen, So., F, Tulsa