ETSU 2, Furman 0
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The ETSU Bucs knocked off Southern Conference leader Furman on Friday night, 2-0. The Bucs struck early and late in the game to get their second road win of the season and move to 7-5-2 overall and 4-3-2 in the conference.
In the first half, the Bucs struck early as the Furman defense gifted the Bucs with a goal. The Bucs worked quickly from the right side to put a shot on goal. The pass came to the right post, and the Furman backline was the first to touch it. A Furman player beat out Fletcher Ekern for possession, but the Furman header went to the right side of the net for an own goal to give ETSU the early 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.
Furman (6-5-3, 5-2-1) had some chances in the first half to knot the game, but keeper Jonny Sutherland and the ETSU defense stood strong and fended off every attempt. Sutherland made three first-half saves.
The second half was well balanced, as both teams had several chances on goal. Furman had multiple opportunities off corner kicks as it led 10-0 on corners, but none of the chances found the back of the net. The Paladins had several scares in the last 10 minutes as they attempted several shots on goal, but none closer than Furman’s Brendan Richardson attempt in the 66th minute.
The Bucs extended the lead in the 88th minute after the Bucs were on a breakaway in front of the Paladin goal. The referee called a foul on Furman keeper Sven Lissek after he attacked the ball too aggressively on Henrique Novaes in the box. Ekern ended up taking the penalty kick and knocked it in the right side of the net to put the nail in the coffin for the Bucs.
Sutherland ended the game with five saves.
Prior to the game, Furman honored 3-year-old Quinn Cronin, the daughter of former Paladin standout McNeil Cronin, as the game was designated the Quinn Game for Down Syndrome Awareness. After Furman head coach Doug Allison and McNeil Cronin addressed the crowd, Quinn Cronin joined her dad in scoring the ceremonial first goal.
The Bucs will continue their road trip on Tuesday at Mercer University at 7 p.m. ETSU is currently riding a three-game win streak and is outscoring the opposition 8-2 in that span.
Furman returns to action at Wofford on Tuesday at 7 p.m.