Cullowhee, N.C. -- Directional in-state rivals face off Sunday afternoon as the Western Carolina women's soccer team hosts the East Carolina Pirates at 1 p.m. at the on-campus Catamount Athletic Complex.
The Catamounts enter Sunday's matchup on a week's rest, most recently falling 4-0 on the road to then 16th-ranked Tennessee. East Carolina enters after dropping their Senior Night matchup 4-0 to Appalachian State on Thursday night.
Admission to Sunday's match – and for each of WCU's regular season matches in Cullowhee – is free of charge. Additionally, Sunday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
Sunday's Matchup:
Western Carolina (1-2-1, 0-0-0 SoCon) vs East Carolina (0-2-3, 0-0-0 American)
Cullowhee, N.C. | 1 p.m. | Catamount Athletic Complex
Live Stats: https://tinyurl.com/336dved8
Watch: https://tinyurl.com/3wrbcdu6
Quick Cuts:
The Catamounts and Pirates meet for the 12th time in series history and the third time in the last four seasons. WCU trails in the overall series 1-8-2, with their sole win coming in 2004 courtesy of goals by Lauren Atkinson and Stephanie Svoboda. The two teams met in 2023 for the first time in seven years, and their two meetings since have been draws (T, 1-1 in 2023; T, 0-0 in 2024).
WCU enters the matchup on the heels of a 0-1-1 week on the road, battling to a scoreless draw with Appalachian State before falling to a nationally ranked Tennessee team. The Catamounts have split their results at home this season, securing a season-opening 4-2 win against Winthrop and falling 2-1 to UNCW.
East Carolina enters the weekend winless on the season, posting a 0-2-3 record thus far. The Pirates have been shut out three times this season and have been outscored 10-4. When ECU scores a goal, they've come in pairs as the Pirates have scored two goals in their two draws on the season.
The two teams have faced one common opponent this season in Appalachian State. The Catamounts battled to a 0-0 draw in Boone last week, with the Mountaineers posting two shots on frame to WCU's one. The Pirates fell 4-0 at home to the Mountaineers their last time out, powering to the win with three second-half goals. App State outshot ECU 18-5 overall and 11-4 in shots on goal.
Players to Watch:
Gabriela Vatrano leads the Catamounts offensively nearly a month into the season, posting two goals against Winthrop in the 2026 opener. The junior midfielder is efficient, putting all three of her shot attempts on frame so far this season.
In addition to Vatrano, Malia Roberts and Lauryn Smith have notched goals in live play, with Samantha Vibberts netting a crucial penalty kick in WCU's comeback bid against Winthrop. Five Catamounts, including Roberts, Vibberts, and Vatrano, have at least three shots on the season, with USC Upstate transfer Caroline Simpkins and freshman Darien Vita posting the same number as well.
Amara Yetka and freshman Elizabeth Rupert have split minutes between the posts for the Catamounts this season, with Yetka playing the full 90 minutes against Tennessee and collecting 12 saves. Rupert most recently went the distance against App State, recording two saves and securing the first shutout of the season for WCU.
Four Pirates are tied for the team lead with a goal each, though Lauryn Taylor leads the team with four points. Junior AJ Mayock leads the team in shots, firing 10 this season and putting four on frame.
ECU has played two goalkeepers between the posts this season, with senior Olivia Dietrich most recently playing the full 90 minutes against Appalachian State. She's split time with freshman Sydney Steinberg, who last played 47 minutes in a shutout performance against High Point.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU returns to the home pitch on Thursday, Sept. 3 as the Catamounts host in-state ACC foe NC State. Kick with the Wolfpack is set for 7 p.m. as the Catamounts welcome a Power Four opponent to Cullowhee for the second consecutive season.
The Catamounts will then hit the road for three straight matches, taking on West Georgia on Sept. 6 in Carrollton, Ga., Miami (OH.) on Sept. 11 in Oxford, Ohio, and opening Southern Conference play on the road with UNCG on Sept. 17.
