JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 26, 2024) – The ETSU men's soccer team guaranteed itself at least a share of the Southern Conference regular season title with the Buccaneers' 1-1 draw over Furman on a wet and cool Saturday night at Summers-Taylor Stadium.
 
Looking to secure an outright conference crown with a win, the Buccaneers left themselves some more work to do to accomplish that feat for a second straight season. A win over the Paladins would've put ETSU at 12 points heading into next weekend's regular season finale. However, with Saturday's draw, the Bucs are at 10 points, while Furman and UNCG are both at seven. ETSU and UNCG will play next Saturday in Greensboro, while the Paladins and Mercer meet in Greenville, S.C.
 
With the draw, ETSU moved to 5-5-4 overall and 3-0-1 in SoCon play. The Bucs remained unbeaten at home as the Blue & Gold are 3-0-3 at Summers-Taylor Stadium this season. Furman moved to 7-3-3 overall and 2-1-1 in league play.
 
It was a tale of two halves on Saturday night, and after waiting out a one hour and eighteen-minute weather delay, Furman – who outshot the Bucs 10-1 in the first half – struck first with a goal from Wilfer Bustamante in the 26th minute.
 
ETSU's lone shot in the opening half came from Gabriel Betancourt, forcing Furman goalkeeper Aaron Salinas to make a save in the 19th minute. Marc Kouadio made three saves in the first 45 minutes to keep the Blue & Gold within reach of the Paladins.
 
The Bucs flipped the switch after halftime and came out with extra energy and motivation. The pressure paid off as captain Gabriel Ramos netted the equalizer in the 58th minute on a header thanks to an assist by Louie Salkeld, making it a 1-1 score. The goal marked Ramos' fifth of the season and 16th of his career.
 
After being held to the one shot in the first half, ETSU totaled four in the second with three coming on net. Oliver Einarrsson – who registered his first collegiate brace in the Bucs' last home game against Gardner-Webb – tested the Furman keeper in the 69th minute and Ramos had another look in the 80th.
 
Furman took seven more shots in the second half with two being on frame, but Kouadio came away with the two stops to keep the Paladins from regaining the lead.
 
The Paladins finished with 12 more shots than the Bucs, 17-5, while ETSU was plus-two in corner kicks, 4-2. The foul count was identical in both halves with the Bucs being called for five and the Paladins for four.
 
The Bucs, who are 7-0-2 in their last nine SoCon matches, need to get at least a point at UNCG next Saturday to secure the outright conference crown. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at UNCG Soccer Stadium.
 
For more information on ETSU men's soccer, go to ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's soccer tab.