GREENSBORO, N.C. (Sept. 22, 2024) – Just when it appeared ETSU women's soccer was moving to 2-0 in conference play, UNCG pulled out a miracle to rip the victory away from the Buccaneers.
 
Kyra Ranvek put the Bucs on the board late in the first half and for 54-plus minutes the goal looked like it was going to be a game-winner. Unfortunately, a throw in with 18 seconds remaining set up the tying goal. Spartan goalkeeper Emma Malone received the ball from Azumi Oka, passed it right back to the UNCG defender and she scored from approximately 35 yards out with seven seconds remaining, resulting in a 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon from UNCG Soccer Stadium.
 
The Bucs, who were looking to open SoCon play 2-0 for the first time since 2018, moved to 2-4-2 overall and 1-0-1, while UNCG is now 2-5-3, 1-0-1.
 
For the game, UNCG took three more shots than ETSU, 13-10, with five of the Spartans' shots coming on goal and four by the Bucs. ETSU was plus-two in corner kicks, 6-4.
 
UNCG tested Ashton Blair in the early stages of the contest as Mel Herrera put one on goal in the opening minute and again in the 13th minute; however, the Buccaneer kept the Spartans off the board with a pair of saves.
 
The Bucs finally got their first shot on net in the 20th when Annabelle Ekern sent one to the left corner of the frame, but it was corralled by Malone. With the game deadlocked at 0-0 in the 35th minute, the Bucs took possession near midfield where Sydney Somogyi found Ruby Teixeira and she sent one past the Spartan defenders where Ranvek gained possession on the run and fired one by Malone for the score, marking her second straight game with a goal.
 
The Bucs took the 1-0 lead into halftime where ETSU took three more shots than UNCG in the opening 45 minutes. The Bucs had eight shots to the Spartans' five. Blair made three saves in the first half.
 
Neither team had many chances in the second half as ETSU took two shots with none coming on target and UNCG posted eight shots with two coming on net. However, the final shot on net resulted in the game-tying score from Oka as her long-distance shot bounced inside the six-yard box, and either glanced off a Buccaneer defender or Blair's fingertips and the ball found its way into the back of the net.
 
The Bucs are back in action on Saturday when ETSU hosts Mercer at 2 p.m. at Summers-Taylor Stadium.
 
For more information on Buccaneer women's soccer, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women's soccer tab.