ETSU Clinches The Southern Conference Regular Season Title

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU has clinched the No. 1 seed in the upcoming 2023 Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Championship after defeating Mercer, 2-1, on Saturday night. The Buccaneers, who were predicted to finish tie for second in the preseason poll, posted a 4-0-1 league mark this season to claim their first regular-season championship since 2017.

The tournament opens with the quarterfinal round on Friday, Nov. 3, with the semifinal round set for Nov. 5, both hosted by top-seeded ETSU and No. 2 seed Wofford. The championship will be played at the highest remaining seed on Saturday, Nov. 11, or Sunday, Nov. 12.

ETSU is led on offense by Gabriel Ramos and Tarik Pannholzer, Ramos with six goals and Pannholzer with five, and on defense by goalkeeper Cole Hunter. Hunter led the SoCon in goals against average (.583) and saves per game (3.83), while posting six shutouts. The Buccaneers (9-5-2) will face the winner of No. 5 Mercer and No. 4 UNCG in the SoCon semifinals on Sunday, Nov. 5, in Johnson City, Tennessee. 

Wofford claimed the No. 2 seed after ending conference play on Saturday with a 1-0 win against Furman. The Terriers went 7-3-6 overall (3-0-2 SoCon) and will face the winner of No. 6 VMI and No. 3 Furman in the semifinals in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Sunday, Nov. 5. The Paladins posted a 8-5-3 overall and 2-2-1 in league play, earning the No. 3 seed in the 2023 SoCon championship after finishing in the No. 5 spot last season.

UNCG went 2-9-5 overall and 1-2-2 in league play to earn the No. 4 seed. The Spartans will face off against No. 5 seed Mercer in the quarterfinals at ETSU.

VMI will be the No. 6 seed and take on No. 3 Furman on Friday, Nov. 3, at Wofford. In their last matchup on Oct. 7, the Paladins were victorious, winning 1-0 over the Keydets. VMI finished its regular season with a 6-2 setback against UNCG on Saturday, ending the regular season with a 5-13 overall record and a 0-5 mark in SoCon play.

The tournament winner earns the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship.
 
2023 SoCon Men’s Soccer Championship

Quarterfinals, Friday, Nov. 3
Campus sites 
Match 1: No. 4 UNCG vs. No. 5 Mercer at 3 p.m. (Johnson City, Tenn.)
Match 2: No. 3 Furman vs. No. 6 VMI at 4 p.m. (Spartanburg, S.C.)

Championship Semifinals, Sunday, Nov. 5
Campus sites (at higher seeds)
Match 3: No. 1 ETSU vs. Match 1 winner 3 p.m. (Johnson City, Tenn.)
Match 4: No. 2 Wofford vs. Match 2 winner 2 p.m. (Spartanburg, S.C.)

Finals, Saturday, Nov. 11 or Sunday, Nov. 12
Campus site (at highest remaining seed)
Match 5: Match 3 winner vs. Match 4 winner