LAKEWOOD RANCH, Florida – No. 3 seed East Carolina moved on to the 2024 American Women’s Soccer Championship final after winning a penalty shootout with No. 2 seed South Florida, 5-3, on Thursday, November 7 at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. The two teams were tied, 1-1, after 110 minutes of action.
 
With the win, the Pirates (9-3-7) advanced to the championship final and will face the winner of Memphis and Rice on Sunday, November 10 at 2 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
 
In the penalty shootout with the Pirates leading, 3-2, East Carolina’s Maeve English made a save off a Gentiana Fetaj shot to give ECU the advantage. Juliana Viera converted East Carolina’s fifth and final penalty kick to send the Pirates to their first American Championship final.
 
In the 57^th minute, Gentiana Fetaj’s shot was blocked but went right to Anna Sutter, who curled in a shot to give South Florida the lead. Sutter scored South Florida’s lone goal in the quarterfinals against North Texas on Monday.
 
East Carolina tied the match in the 84^th minute when Sydney Schnell picked up a loose ball and her first shot was saved by South Florida defender Georgia Brown on to the post. Schnell was able to claim the rebound and score to tie the match.
 
English made five saves for the Pirates, including two crucial stops in the second overtime period. Leire Herraez Gallach recorded two saves for South Florida.
 
2024 American Women's Soccer Championship
Premier Sports Campus (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.)
 
Monday, November 4
Quarterfinal 1 – No. 3 Seed East Carolina 1, No. 6 Seed Charlotte 0 (2OT) | Box Score | Video Highlights
Quarterfinal 2 - No. 2 Seed South Florida 1, No. 7 North Texas 0 | Box Score | Video Highlights
Quarterfinal 3 - No. 4 Seed Rice 2, No. 5 Seed UAB 0 | Box Score | Video Highlights
Quarterfinal 4 - No. 1 Seed Memphis 4, No. 8 Seed Tulsa 2 | Box Score | Video Highlights
 
Thursday, November 7
Semifinal 1 – No. 3 East Carolina vs. No. 2 South Florida | 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT | Box Score | Video Highlights
Semifinal 2 – No. 4 Rice vs. No. 1 Memphis | 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPN+
 
Sunday, November 10
Championship Final - 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT | ESPNU