JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Aug. 29, 2024) – ETSU's Ryan Suckling netted his first career goal early in the first half, but after keeping Presbyterian off the board for the first 79 minutes, the Blue Hose scored the equalizer late in the contest to force a 1-1 draw with the Buccaneers on Thursday night at Summers-Taylor Stadium.
 
Suckling put home a rebound off a shot from Lucas Nordin that came off a corner kick to put the Blue & Gold ahead in the 15th minute. ETSU then had an excellent opportunity to add to its lead when Zayd Idlibi was taken down in the box by Presbyterian's Eric Allen in the 37th minute, which set up a Buccaneer penalty kick. With Gabriel Ramos taking his mark for the kick, his attempt ricocheted off the left post, keeping it a one-goal game.
 
The Bucs took the 1-0 lead into halftime where ETSU was plus-five in corner kicks, 6-1, while Marc Kouadio made a pair of saves in the opening 45 to keep Presbyterian scoreless.
 
Both teams had looks early in the second half as Nico Kross tested the Presbyterian keeper in the 49th minute, while Kouadio followed up with saves in the 51st and 52nd minutes to keep the shutout intact.
 
In the 63rd minute, the Blue & Gold got shots from Dave Neijenhuis, Louie Salkeld and Ingvar Kolbjornsen; however, Neijenhuis' attempt was saved, Salkeld's shot was just off the mark and Presbyterian blocked Kolbjornsen's chance. Following the trio of shots, ETSU had three straight corner kicks between the 64th and 65th minutes, but the only look the Bucs picked up was a shot by Jimmy Choi that was blocked.
 
With the Bucs holding onto their 1-0 lead late in the match, the Blue Hose received a gift of a call in the 80th minute. Presbyterian sent a corner kick into the box and the Buccaneers were called for a handball, which rewarded the Blue Hose with a penalty kick. Kouadio denied Carson Griffith on the first attempt, but the Blue Hose midfiedler followed up with the rebound to send the equalizer into the back of the net.
 
ETSU's last look came in the 82nd minute when Abdi Bahur's was saved by a Blue Hose defender, while Kouadio came up with his sixth and final save in the 84th to keep the game tied at 1-1.
 
For the contest, Presbyterian was plus-five in shots, 17-12, while ETSU was plus-seven in corners, 12-5. The Bucs were called for six more fouls, 16-10, while Presbyterian was booked for two yellow cards and ETSU picked up one.

With the draw, ETSU moved to 1-1-1 on the young season, while Presbyterian remained unbeaten at 1-0-1. 
 
ETSU now hits the road to take on No. 17 North Carolina on Monday night at 7 o'clock.
 
For more information on Buccaneer men's soccer, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's soccer tab.