EMORY, Va. (Aug. 21, 2025) - The ETSU men's soccer team walked into a perfect storm: facing a revamped team with a new coach in their first game in a new venue. 

The Buccaneers fell 2-0 to the Wasps at the Food City Sports Complex in Emory, Virginia, on Thursday in their 2025 season opener and played the last 25 minutes with just 10 players. 

Emory & Henry struck first on their home field. The Wasps (0-0-0) tested the Bucs (0-1-0) over the top multiple times in the first quarter of an hour, and Nicola Brocca clipped Jean-Charles Eyidi on the edge of the six-yard box to give the Wasps a spot kick in the 14th minute. Emil Holmberg read Samuel Ulrich da Silva's intent but couldn't reach the ball just inside his right post. Ulrich da Silva missed a chance at a quick brace in the 18th when he put an open chance on the back post over the crossbar. 

In the 28th minute, Eyidi broke free again inside the box and fired from Holmberg's left, but the freshman goalkeeper made the save on his near post to keep the score level into halftime. 

The game opened up in the second half. The Bucs got their first good opportunity with Sergio Baguena off the bench backing his way down through three defenders into the box before turning and firing and forcing a save out of goalkeeper Baptiste Berthozat in the 49th minute. Berkay Duman threatened again in the 57th, but Berthozat turned that chance away as well.  

Holmberg stopped Eyidi at the hour mark followed by a routine effort from Ulrich da Silva in the 61st. In the 65th, Brocca hauled down Eyidi as he streaked past with the ball and was sent off, forcing ETSU to finish the game with 10 players. 

Shortly after Brocca's ejection, Ulrich da Silva took advantage of the thin back line to settle a well-measured long pass from Eyidi, turn, and rifle a shot with pace past Holmberg to put the Wasps up beyond the reach of the Bucs.

The result counts as a loss for the Buccaneers but not a win for the Wasps as the game is considered an exhibition for the Division II program. 

ETSU opens its home schedule at Summers-Taylor Stadium on Monday at 6:00 against Big South preseason favorite High Point. 

For more information on ETSU men's soccer, go to ETSUBucs.com.