SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Oct. 12, 2024) – The new season has paid big dividends for the ETSU men's soccer team.
 
After starting Southern Conference play last weekend, the Buccaneers have opened with back-to-back wins as ETSU blanked Wofford 2-0 on Saturday night at Snyder Field in Spartanburg, S.C.
 
Coming off a 2-0 home win over VMI last Sunday, the Blue & Gold got first half goals by Dave Neijenhuis and Jimmy Choi, as the Bucs secured six points through their first two league matches.
 
With the win, ETSU – who sits atop the league standings with the six points – improved to 3-5-3 overall and 2-0-0 in SoCon play. Wofford, coming of a scoreless draw at Wake Forest on Tuesday night, dropped to 4-3-2 and 0-1-0. The Bucs are now 10-0-2 against the Terriers in their last 12 matches.
 
With Wofford having only surrendered six goals in its first eight matches coming into the night, ETSU attacked early and scored the opening goal on a set piece. With the Bucs earning a corner kick in the ninth minute, Gabriel Ramos sent one through traffic in the center of the box where Neijenhuis stuck out his left leg and booted one through the left side of the net for his first goal in the Blue & Gold.
 
With the Bucs holding onto their lead, Choi came through in the late stages of the first stanza to extend the advantage to, 2-0. Again, Ramos helped set up the score, as he sent a ball up field through the Terrier defense and Choi was on the run. The Buccaneer freshman had the ball hit off his thigh and he maneuvered his way past Wofford defenders into the 18-yard box. From there, Choi laced one through the lower right post, resulting in his first collegiate score in the 43rd minute.
 
The Bucs took the 2-0 lead into halftime and the result held through the final 45 minutes in Spartanburg.
 
ETSU's defense limited Wofford to one shot on target in the second half, which came in the 89th minute. Marc Kouadio, the reigning SoCon Defensive Player of the Week, registered his second straight clean sheet as he recorded two saves on the night – one in each half.
 
Wofford doubled up the Bucs in shots, 12-6, while the Terriers were plus-four in corner kicks, 6-2. Both teams were called for nine fouls.
 
Choi led the Blue & Gold with three shots.
 
The Bucs return home on Tuesday night when ETSU hosts Gardner-Webb in non-conference play. Kickoff for Senior Night is set for 6 p.m. at Summers-Taylor Stadium.
 
For more information on Buccaneer men's soccer, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's soccer tab.