Bucs forced to settle for one point in SoCon opener 

?JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Sept. 30, 2023) - True or not, the idea that unprecedented, inexplicable things happen under a full moon has stuck with humans throughout written history. 

The ETSU men's soccer team now has first-hand experience with it. 

Under a brilliant full moon that was as bright as the Summers-Taylor Stadium lights by full time, the Bucs played Wofford to a 0-0 draw on Saturday night. The goalless draw is the first ever in 18 meetings between the Bucs and the Terriers, a matchup known to produce goals in bunches. 

The Buccaneers (3-5-2, 0-0-1) had no shortage of chances, with Nico Kross (Heidenheim, Germany) launching a header over the crossbar in the 20th minute, then hitting the crossbar in the 27th. ETSU held the Terriers (2-2-5, 0-0-1) without a shot until the final two minutes of the half, when Nikolai Rojel fired high and wide from the left side of the goal. 

In the second half, more chances abounded for the Bucs, but the breakthrough continued to elude them. Kross had a chance go high and wide in the 48th minute, then Kieran Richards (Hamilton, New Zealand) had a chance missed in the 50th minute quickly followed by Gabriel Ramos (Sao Paulo, Brazil) missing inches from the left post on a shot from the right side of the box.  

Chances continued to flow past the hour mark.

In the 65th minute, Axel Boden (Ostersund, Sweden) had a chance from the right side turned away by Wofford goalkeeper Victor Cameron, then Tarik Pannholzer (Flensburg, Germany) forced a leaping save out of Cameron on a shot destined for the net just under the crossbar in the 75th minute. Richards had a clean look with a header on a free kick in the 79th, but Cameron caught it diving to his right. Richards was denied again in the 82nd minute, the final real chance for either side.  

The Bucs outshot the Terriers 11-4, and ETSU had four shots on goal while Wofford failed to test Cole Hunter (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.), who collected his second shutout of the year.  

ETSU now has six days to prepare for preseason favorite UNCG Friday night at Summers-Taylor Stadium in a 7 p.m. kickoff. Admission is free. 

For more information on ETSU men's soccer, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's soccer tab.