JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 25, 2022) – The (7-4-3) Bucs men’s soccer played their final non-conference game of the season when they faced a (4-10-2) Northern Kentucky Norse squad with a record setting day for senior Kieran Richards (Hamilton, New Zealand).
After falling to an early deficit to Northern Kentucky, the Bucs would answer with a goal of their own at 9:49 in the first period when Kieran Richards would record his first goal of the match to even the score 1-1.
It would be with less than 10:00 remaining in the first period when Bucs junior Carlos Portas (Barcelona, Spain) found the goal on an assist by Lucas Lightner (Clarksville, Tenn.) to take a lead that the Bucs would never give back.
The second period saw another strong defensive showing for the Bucs squad that allowed 11 shots with only four of those being on target for the Norse.
The Bucs would continue to grow their 2-1 lead as Lightner scored for the Bucs midway through the period to make the score 3-1. It was Lightner’s first goal of the season.
The Bucs continued to attack the goal, forcing three saves on four shots in the final 10 minutes of play.
The final goal came late for the Bucs in the 87th minute of play from Kieran Richards, his second goal of the day, completing his brace and tying the programs single-season goal record (11). Richards also moves to fifth in all-time goals scored in program history (18).
The (8-4-3) Bucs will next close out the regular season when they travel to face the (5-4-6) Mercer Bears on Oct. 29. Playing under the lights, kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
For more information on the ETSU men’s soccer team, visit www.etsubucs.com/msoccer.
