JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 12, 2024) – The win streak is at three straight for ETSU men's soccer!
 
On a night where the Buccaneers honored their three seniors prior to the match, it was a freshman who stole the spotlight. Oliver Einarsson recorded a brace for his first collegiate goals, while sophomore midfielder Louie Salkeld tied the single-game program record with his three assists as ETSU cruised to a 3-1 win over Gardner-Webb on a rainy Tuesday night at Summers-Taylor Stadium.  
 
Playing its final non-conference game of the season, ETSU improved to 4-5-3 overall, while Gardner-Webb – who took down Wake Forest earlier this season – dropped to 6-3-2. To go with their three-match win streak, the Bucs remained unbeaten at home as the Blue & Gold are now 3-0-2 at Summers-Taylor Stadium.
 
The Bucs grabbed the momentum in the first half as Ramos put the Blue & Gold up 1-0 with a goal in the 26th minute. After Salkeld's shot was blocked, Gabriel Ramos stepped up and sent the rebound into the back of the net for his team-leading fourth goal of the campaign.
 
Eleven minutes later the Buccaneer attack struck again to extend their lead to, 2-0.
 
Again, it was Salkeld who helped set up the goal, as he fed Abdi Bahur up the right side on the run where he crossed one over to Einarsson for the goal in the left corner of the net in the 37th minute.
 
The Bucs took the 2-0 lead into the break where ETSU outshot Gardner-Webb, 6-2.
 
After shaking up its line-up at halftime, Gardner-Webb came out with a strong attack in the final 45 minutes. The Runnin' Bulldogs took 12 of their 14 shots in the final frame and pulled within a goal when Giampaolo Nardi scored off a set piece in the 57th minute, making it 2-1.
 
Fortunately, for the Blue & Gold, Einarsson wasn't done scoring.
 
The freshman midfielder gave the Bucs some breathing room with his second goal in the 78th minute, extending the lead to 3-1. Ingvar Kolbjornsen started the play with a quick midfield pass to Salkeld who then sent it forward with a cross to the left side to Einarsson who beat the Gardner-Webb defense and fired one into the back of the net.
 
The two-goal lead held firm and ETSU sent the seniors out with a victory.
 
Marc Kouadio, one of the seniors honored pregame, registered his five saves in the second half. Ramos, another Buccaneer to celebrate Senior Night, notched is 15th career goal and 47th point on Tuesday night. The 15 goals moved Ramos past Danny Barlow (2017-18) for seventh all-time, while he also passed Cameron Woodfin (2014-18) for seventh in points.
 
ETSU took three corner kicks in the first half, compared to Gardner-Webb taking its four in the final 45.
 
The Bucs return to conference play this weekend as ETSU heads to Mercer on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
 
For more information on Buccaneer men's soccer, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's soccer tab.