Date Posted: 10/2/2008

MACON, Ga. - ETSU’s first season of men’s soccer opened with four wins in seven non-conference contests despite having only played twice in front of the home crowd at the Summers-Taylor Stadium. The Buccaneers kick off A-Sun play at home against the UNF Ospreys at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. The match airs on ASun.TV.

ETSU had a stretch of winning four of five after a season-opening loss to Appalachian State. During those five games ETSU limited its opponents to only four goals. The Buccaneers enter A-Sun play smarting from an 8-0 loss to No. 15 North Carolina. In the six games prior to their contest with the Tar Heels, the Buccaneers had allowed only seven goals. James Holt has manned the net for ETSU, recording a league-leading three shutouts. His goals-against average stood below 1.20 prior to the North Carolina game. Sean Hoek, ETSU’s leading scorer has made his goals count. He has scored three goals and all three have resulted in being the game-winning goal. He tallied the winning goal against Wofford on August 31st, Elon on September 14th and High Point six days later.

After winning only once in their first five contests, the Ospreys won two straight, defeating Georgia Southern on September 17th and Flagler on September 20th before dropping a 3-1 decision to UCF on September 24th. The eight-day layoff represents the longest of the season for the Ospreys. UNF owns a 2-1 mark in conference openers, including a 1-0 win against USC Upstate last year in the Spartans’ A-Sun debut. After winning only one A-Sun road game in their first two seasons (1-6), the Ospreys won three of their five A-Sun road games in 2007, part of a 5-4 mark in conference play. Goalkeeper Tony Restino ranks third in the A-Sun in save percentage at .771 and tied for third in saves, 37, with ETSU’s Holt.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Related Links:
 • ETSU Preview
 • UNF Preview