Sunday, October 22, 2006

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (October 22, 2006) - The ETSU women's soccer team clinched the No. 4 seed in the Atlantic Sun tournament as they defeated the Lipscomb Bisons on Sunday. The Bucs improve to 5-8-3 overall and 4-3-2 in the A-Sun while the Bisons fall to 1-17-0 and 0-9-0.

In the first period, the Bucs out shot the Bisons, 8-1, but the Lipscomb defense was able to thwart the Bucs early attack. The teams would enter halftime with a 0-0 deadlock.

ETSU came out fighting in the second half and in the 70^th minute of play junior Katie O'Bryan (Hampton, Va.) headed the ball past Lipscomb keeper Katie Shelton on a pass from Danielle Bayles (Atlanta, Georgia).

Six minutes later, Aubree Snyder (Reading, Pa.) gave the Bucs a 2-0 advantage as she headed the ball into the net on a corner kick from Meredith Goldman (Knoxville, Tenn.).

"We came out sluggish in the first half," said head coach Heather Henson. "We were creating a lot of opportunities but just not finishing out the details. Fortunately in the second half, we were able to do that."

ETSU out shot Lipscomb 16-4 on total shots and put 12 shots on goal to Lipscomb's three. The Bucs also took 12 corner kicks while holding the Bisons to just two. Sophomore Erin Bilyeu (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) also earned her first shutout of the season.

The Buccaneers will play their final home match of the season on Wednesday, October 25 as ETSU takes on UNC-Asheville for senior day. The Bucs will be honoring their five seniors, Blair DeGraw (Greensboro, N.C.), Emily Fulcher (New Bern, N.C.), Trista Haupt (Myersville, Md.), Rebecca Murray (Franklin, Tenn.), and Alex Schwark (Strongsville, Ohio). Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.