The Bucs faced off against the Stetson Hatters for the Atlantic Sun Championship, with the winner getting an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. Until Saturday afternoon, Stetson was the only team in the A-Sun that ETSU had never beaten. The Bucs found the magic on a goal scored by Itode Fubara in the first overtime period.”We have never beat Stetson,” said head coach Scott Calabrese. “They are the only team in A-Sun that we never beat and that has been our goal.”
The Hatters were able to gain some control of the field but were unable to score and take the lead.
The Bucs struggled to get an open shot on goal but did not find the shot. At halftime Stetson had a six-shot to two- shot advantage but the game remained scoreless.
“Stetson has a very good team,” said Fubara. “They are a very technical team and challenged us to make our shots.”
The second half opened with an aggressive ETSU dynamic but they still could not find the shot on goal that they were looking for. Both teams struggled to control the field.
A parting shot by Stetson with a few seconds left hit the crossbar of the ETSU goal almost ending the Bucs’ hope of a championship.
The game remained scoreless at the end of regulation.The Bucs attacked from the beginning of the first overtime period and put Stetson on the defensive.
The Hatters were able to get a shot on goal but Stetson was unable to score.
ETSU put the game away on a free kick by Colin Pugh that Itode ‘Foobie’ Fubara was able to put into the goal giving ETSU its first ever A-Sun Men’s Soccer Championship.
“I was in the right place at the right time for the free kick,” said Tournament MVP Fubara.
The Bucs will find out who they face in the tournament today at 4:30 pm in a Selection Show Party at Cafe One 12.
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