The East Tennessee State women’s soccer team opened the season at Liberty Bell Field Sunday, August 29 with a win against the Winthrop Eagles, defeating them 3-0.
“We hope to have a good season this year,” said soccer coach Heather Henson. “This is the highest we have ever been ranked in preseason. Hopefully we can successful with our experience.”
The 158 fans that came to support the Lady Bucs did not seem to interfere with their concentration as they earned their first shut-out of the season.
During the first half, the Lady Bucs kept control of the ball and dominated possession taking eight shots-on-goal and holding the Eagle’s to only three shots.
The game remained scoreless until about five minutes into the second half when Junior Erin Ashton beat a Winthrop defender and made a shot on the left back post of the goal.
The two teams battled back and forth for control, but the Lady Bucs came out on top scoring two more goals before the game was over.
“Erin Ashton is our leading scorer,” said Henson. “She performed very giving us our winning goal.”
Freshman Katie O’Bryan scored the first of these two goals and was assisted by Alexander Schwark who crossed the ball to O’Bryan. This was O’Bryan’s first goal of the season and as a Lady Buccaneer.
The final goal was scored by Catherine Olsen off a pass from Ashton.
Christine Parks made her debut in goal for the Lady Bucs, posting two saves and earning the win in the shut out.
The Buc’s defense worked overtime to make sure the Eagle’s did not have a chance to score.
They managed to hold the Eagles to only five shots in the game while recording 16 total shots.
“We are returning the most players ever at 13,” said Henson. “We have quality players with experience.”
The Lady Bucs enter this season ranked fifth in the Southern Conference. That’s the highest ETSU women’s soccer has ever been ranked in preseason polls.
In the twelve team conference the Bucs will have to face a quality conference according to Henson.
“We have a quality conference that is good from top to bottom,” she said. “Furman and UNC-Greensboro will come in as the favorites this year.”
Henson knows hard work will be the key.
“We will have to work to harder this season to win over-time games. Last year we lost some close ones in overtime near the end of the season.”
The Lady Bucs now head on a five game road trip that will take them to Atlanta to play Georgia State and Jacksonville State.
For the next three away games ETSU will travel to Radford, The Citadel and Georgia Southern for their second SoCon game of the season.
At this point assistant coach Andy Stoots will try hand as assistant coach with the goalies. Stoots a division I-A coach is expected to have a big impact for ETSU soccer.
The Lady Buccaneer’s next regular season game will be held Friday, Sept. 3 at 3 p.m. in Cookeville, Tenn. against Tennessee Tech.
They then return home to host the University of North Carolina-Asheville on Monday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m.

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