LEXINGTON, Va. (Oct. 13, 2023) – With only five conference games, no points can be taken for granted – especially not the ones that look easy on paper. 
 
After a midweek non-conference tilt, the ETSU men's soccer team visits an improved VMI squad on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in a return to Southern Conference action. 
 
THE MATCHUP  
ETSU (5-5-2, 1-0-1) at VMI (4-9, 0-2) 
Saturday, October 14 | 2:30 p.m. | Patchin Field (Lexington, Va.) | ESPN+ | Live Stats 
  
ABOUT THE BUCS  
·       ETSU heads to Lexington off a 1-0 win over Gardner-Webb on Tuesday behind Gabriel Ramos' third goal in two games. The Bucs have won consecutive games for just the second time this season and are unbeaten in their last three, a season-long streak. 
·       Ramos was named the NCAA National Player of the Week on Thursday after notching three goals and one assist in two games over the previous seven days. Ramos is third in the SoCon with five goals this season and is third in points with 13. His offensive surge has lifted him to ninth in ETSU history in goals, tied with Alesi Osorio with 10. 
·       Kieran Richards and Tarik Pannholzer are both on the hunt for historic goals. Both are tied with Aaron Schoenfeld for fourth on the all-time goals list at 20. The next goal by either will tie them with Joao Ramahlo for third all-time. 
·       ETSU remains spectacularly stingy on defense, ranking 25th in the nation in team goals against average. Cole Hunter is 12th in the nation in GAA and 14th in save percentage, backstopping ETSU to four shutouts this season and three consecutive shutouts. Three games without conceding marks the Bucs' longest streak since March 23-April 3, 2021. 
 
ABOUT VMI 
·       The Keydets are riding high after a 9-0 win over NCCAA opponent Regent, their most goals in a single game since 1991 and tied for their second-most ever. Eight different Keydets found the net for VMI on Wednesday. 
·       Nick Regan's group earned their first win over a Division I opponent since 2014 on September 19 when freshman Kyle Grant scored in the 87th minute to steal a 1-0 win over Radford. 
·       Grant has been a revelation out front for VMI in 2023. The freshman from Jamaica has five goals this season, the most by any VMI player in a single year since 2010. Junior midfielder Cole Mooney has five assists for VMI, also the most since 2010. 
·       This is VMI's fifth and final home game of 2023. They are 2-2 at Patchin Field this season and close with four straight games on the road before the SoCon tournament. 
 
SERIES HISTORY 
·       This is the 16th meeting between ETSU and VMI. The Buccaneers have won all 15 prior matchups. 
·       The Bucs have dominated on the final score line, as well, outscoring VMI 53-4 all-time and posting seven consecutive shutouts dating back to October 3, 2017. 
·       ETSU won the last meeting 3-0 at Summers-Taylor Stadium on September 30, 2022. Pannholzer scored 48 seconds in to jump start the Bucs, followed by Christian Inchima in the 35th minute and Richards in the 47th. 
 
UP NEXT  
ETSU returns home for Senior Night against Winthrop on Tuesday at 7 p.m. 
 
For more information on ETSU men's soccer, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's soccer tab.