Having started the new season 2-0 for the first time in five years, the ETSU women’s soccer team -which currently stands 2-1 -finds itself amid a four-game stretch against teams from major conferences. A major challenge for sure.
Having suffered a 3-0 home loss at the hands of Southeastern Conference member Vanderbilt last week, the Buccaneers will leave Thursday for a two-game road swing through Texas, playing Sun Belt Conference member North Texas on Sept. 12 and Conference USA member Texas Christian on Sept. 14.
The team will then head on the road to meet another SEC opponent, facing off with South Carolina on the 19th.
According to head coach Heather Henson, the soccer program wanted to face more recognizable non-conference opponents which would also challenge the team to become better as they prepare for Atlantic Sun Conference play.
“I feel very good about the team this year which is part of the reason for the nonconference schedule. It will definitely be the toughest season we’ve played so far,” said Henson. “We figured that you’re going to get better the better teams you play.”
This will not be the first time ETSU’s team has faced South Carolina.
Last year they lost 5-2, however, at halftime it was 5-0 and the team was able to make adjustments and score two goals by upping their offense and their defense of the goal.
“It’s about playing our system and our team style for 90 minutes,” said Henson. “We’ll get good results out of that.”
After the South Carolina game, ETSU will play two more away games against Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida, both of whom are conference opponents, before coming back to ETSU for the next home game on Oct. 3 against Lipscomb.

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