JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 5, 2023) –?Sometimes a game needs no introduction. Even when neither team has had the success they had hoped for in a given year, two teams with great tradition and pride get together and create a must-see event. 
 
To that end, the ETSU men's soccer team hosts the UNCG Spartans in a critical Friday night SoCon clash. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Summers-Taylor Stadium. 
 
THE MATCHUP  
ETSU (3-5-2, 0-0-1) vs. UNCG (1-7-3, 0-1-0) 
Friday, Oct. 6 | 7 p.m. | Summers-Taylor Stadium | ESPN+ | Live Stats 
  
ABOUT THE BUCS  
·       ETSU comes in off a 0-0 draw with Wofford. In a matchup reputed for an abundance of goals, the Buccaneers and Terriers played to the first goalless draw in their shared history. 
·       Goalkeeper Cole Hunter has started the last two matches for the Bucs after platooning most of the year with Marc Kouadio. Hunter is second in the SoCon in goals against average (0.833), save percentage (.783), and tied for third in shutouts (2). 
·       Forwards Kieran Richards and Tarik Pannholzer are in a race for history. Both players have 19 career goals, and the player who scores next will be the fifth in ETSU history with 20 career goals, joining David Geno (26), Fletcher Ekern (23), Joao Ramalho (21), and Aaron Schoenfeld (20). 
 
ABOUT UNCG 
·       The preseason #10 team in the United Soccer Coaches' Top 25 and the decided preseason favorite in the SoCon, the Spartans are 1-7-3 in 2023 and lost 1-0 to Furman last Saturday. It was UNCG's first conference loss since November 7, 2021. 
·       The Spartans are 195th in the country in goals per game (0.67) and have been outscored 10-3 since September 13. Their only win of the year came on September 9, a 2-1 victory at Charlotte. 
·       Right back Ethan Conley plays a huge role in the Spartans' buildup. The fifth year was drafted 50th overall by the New York Red Bulls in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft but elected to return to UNCG for his final season. He leads the team with two goals this season and has three goals and three assists for his career. 
·       UNCG will be without freshman Enzo Dovlo, who was red carded in the 90th minute in the loss to Furman. Dovlo had played all but nine minutes of UNCG's season prior to his ejection. 
 
SERIES HISTORY 
·       This is the 21st meeting between ETSU and UNCG. The Bucs are 6-7-7 against the Spartans all-time and winless in the last six. 
·       The last matchup between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw on October 15, 2022. Richards scored in the 26th minute, and the Bucs held on until Ismail El Harchi scored the equalizer for the Spartans in the 87th. 
·       ETSU's last win over UNCG came October 14th, 2017, a 2-1 win in Greensboro. Danny Barlow and Luke Parker scored for the Bucs, with Parker scoring the game-winner in the 82nd minute. 
 
UP NEXT  
After Friday's match, just five fixtures remain on ETSU's regular season schedule. The Bucs are on the road at Gardner-Webb on Tuesday at 6 p.m. 
 
For more information on Buccaneer men's soccer, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's soccer tab.