FARMVILLE, Va. (August 29, 2025) - Henrique Cruz got ETSU's first goal of the season, and grad transfer Stanley Isaac opened his Buccaneers account, but the goals were not enough for ETSU in a 3-2 loss to Longwood at the Longwood Athletics Complex on Friday. 

The Lancers (1-0-1) opened the scoring in the 24th minute when a clearance attempt was chested down by Brando Bedolla just inside the box. Bedolla fired a half-volley through traffic that snuck inside the back post to put Longwood in front of the Buccaneers (0-3-0), a lead they carried after 45 minutes. 

Longwood doubled their lead moments into the second half when a Kevin Peprah cross was deflected by a defender to Syrus Connolly, well behind the defense but onside when Peprah kicked the ball, and Connolly banged home an uncontested shot inside 10 yards from goal. 

The Bucs began their comeback in the 57th minute when good interplay down the right side by Cruz, Shewit Worton, and Jaime Carrillo put Cruz in space to the right of goal, where he threaded a shot through two defenders and past goalkeeper Max Hinke for his third career goal at ETSU and first of 2025. 

Longwood threatened again in the 75th minute when Jose Coutinho got space on the break and put a shot on goal that deflected off defender Pablo Ramirez, forcing Emil Holmberg into a difficult save diving to his right. 

Seconds later, the Bucs were level. 

Noah Franks forced a corner, then received the corner short from Worton and launched a cross toward the penalty spot. An attempted shot by Ramirez pushed the ball clean onto the left foot of Isaac, who turned and fired a rocket that caught Hinke flat-footed for his first goal as a Buccaneer. 

Longwood regained the lead less than two minutes later when Bedolla floated a perfect pass over the top of the defense to Jesus Macaya down the left side, who weaved a low cross through traffic and found Kevin Peprah wide open on the back post with enough time to take an extra touch to settle before scoring his first goal of the season and the game-winner for Longwood. 

The Lancers outshot the Buccaneers 19-16, with Longwood putting 10 shots on goal to ETSU's six. Emil Holmberg made seven saves, and Cruz led the Bucs with six shots and three on goal. 

ETSU takes a week off before going back on the road to face reigning Big South tournament champion Gardner-Webb on September 6. 

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