SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Sept. 20, 2026) - The ETSU women's soccer team defeated Wofford 2-0 on Sunday in Spartanburg.
Ella Parker scored a spectacular goal in the first half and
Reagan Fitzgerald headed home her 21st career goal late in proceedings to deliver ETSU's second consecutive 2-0-0 start to SoCon play and its fourth since rejoining the league in 2014.
The Buccaneers (5-3-1, 2-0-0) had the Terriers (3-5-1, 0-2-0) under pressure early on, but things took a grim turn for the hosts in the seventh minute when
Jada Cooper stole the ball from a defender one-on-one near midfield. Cooper turned on the jets racing toward goal and got past the last defender, Satya Tarafdar, who pulled on Cooper's jersey and sent her tumbling to the ground on the edge of the 18-yard box, drawing a straight red card in the process. Fitzgerald missed wide right on the ensuing direct free kick attempt, and Wofford registered its only shot attempt moments later the other way on a chance for Annie Andrews, but the hunt was on for ETSU playing with the numbers advantage.
The breakthrough came in the 38th minute.
Lauren Leslie played a corner kick along the ground on the left wing to Parker in space, and the senior hit it true from 25 yards out and tucked it into an unplayable area just inside the back post for her second career goal and her first since November 1, 2024.
ETSU remained the aggressor for the balance of the match, but the clincher didn't come until the 78th minute.
Natalie Capannelli won a corner kick for ETSU, and
Ava Duffey delivered the ball to the near post. Multiple Bucs were in the area, but Fitzgerald was the one with the cleanest look running in from the penalty spot, and she headed the ball home for her 21st career goal and her third in as many games. Fitzgerald now sits tied with Sarah Connolly for eighth on the ETSU career scoring list and moves past Terri Miller for eighth on the ETSU career points list with 50.
The Bucs outshot the Terriers 16-1 on Sunday and had 12 shots on goal, their most in a game since 13 at The Citadel on September 18, 2025.
Addison Yelton made one save and combined with
Finley Dybik for the team's fourth shutout of 2026. Yelton earned her 13th goalkeeper win at ETSU, breaking a tie with Caitlin Gaughan for sixth all-time.
Pending the outcome of a weather-affected contest between Samford and Western Carolina, ETSU will either be tied with WCU on points or in first place outright at the end of Sunday's SoCon action. The Bucs host Tennessee Tech Friday night at 6 p.m. Admission is free at Summers-Taylor Stadium.
For more information on ETSU women's soccer, go to ETSUBucs.com.
