Bucs lose two consecutive non-conference games for the first time since 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 19, 2012) – Kentucky broke open a level game with two goals through the final 20 minutes to defeat the ETSU men’s soccer team, 3-1, on Wednesday night at the UK Soccer Complex.

Junior David Geno (Kingsport, Tenn.) erased Kentucky’s (3-4-0) first-half lead, converting a penalty just 1:09 into the second period. Unfortunately for ETSU (4-3-0), it proved to be the only highlight as the Wildcats responded on Steven Perinovic’s first goal of the season, and put to rest any doubt in the 83rd minute when Charlie Pettys capitalized on a penalty.

ETSU will also be without sophomore defender Simon Schroettle (Rain, Germany) in its next match, as he was issued a red card in the 86th minute by referee Tony Crush for a foul near midfield.

“It was a difficult game,” ETSU head coach Scott Calabrese said. “We started well and then conceded a goal against the run of play. We came out in the second half and got the goal back quickly. I felt that would be the catalyst for us to push on and get another, but we lost our grip on the game and then lost our composure. It wasn’t until we conceded the second goal that we started to play again.

“In the end, we have to do a better job of remaining calm and competing at key moments during the game.”  ]

The Bucs outshot UK 8-7 on the night, but the Wildcats took their shots efficiently by scoring a trio of goals. ETSU took six corners, but settled for just the lone goal on Geno’s penalty after a Alesi Osorio (Austin, Texas) was taken down in the box.

The opening portions of the game didn’t see much in terms of statistics, but the Bucs controlled the majority of possession. ETSU took five corners to UK’s three, and both teams were even in shots at three apiece.

Although its chances were limited in the half, Kentucky broke through in the 34th minute. Tyler Riggs and Gabriel Conelian used some great combination play at the top of the penalty area, stealing the ball from ETSU’s defense and scoring after Riggs sent a through ball toward goal to spring Conelian free. Only Coulter stood in the way, and Conelian capitalized with his first goal of the season to put the Wildcats on top.

The Bucs had one last chance to equalize before the break, as Blaike Woodruff (Georgetown, Texas) sent a cross in with less than 10 seconds remaining. The ball found Alesi Osorio (Austin, Texas) in the box, who flipped the opportunity back looking for an oncoming teammate, but nothing came of it and the two teams headed for the locker rooms.

Sixty-nine seconds into the second period, ETSU equalized. Osorio had control of the ball inside the box and was taken down to award the Bucs a penalty. Geno stepped up and struck toward the right side of goal to level the score line on his fifth goal of the season.

The Buccaneers nearly took the lead later in the half. Minutes after entering, redshirt senior David Haba (Germantown, Tenn.) sent an excellent cross to Osorio, who met the ball in the air and put on a powerful header that went straight to Jack Van Arsdale in goal. It was one of Arsdale’s three saves on the night.

UK capitalized on the missed chance via Perinovic. Charlie Pettys took a free kick from right on top of ETSU’s end line, and found Perinovic on the far post who headed in what proved to be the game-winning goal.

It would not be the last Wildcat goal. Following another free kick near the penalty area, Schroettle was whistled for a handball to award Kentucky a penalty. Pettys stepped up to take the chance and converted to give UK some cushion heading into the final minutes.

That cushion was strengthened more when the Bucs went a man down on Schroettle’s foul.

ETSU will look to put an end to its losing spurt on Saturday, traveling to Rock Hill, S.C. to take on Winthrop at 7 p.m.

Notes

- ETSU’s two consecutive non-conference losses are its first since 2009, when it lost three straight to Elon, North Carolina and UNC Asheville.

- David Geno (Kingsport, Tenn.) scored his fifth goal of the season. He leads both the team and Atlantic Sun Conference in goals scored.

- The Bucs will be without sophomore defender Simon Schroettle (Rain, Germany) against Winthrop after he was issued a red card for a foul in the 86^th minute. Schroettle was a member of the A-Sun All-Freshman team last year.

- All three of ETSU’s losses this season have come on the road. The Bucs fell to Appalachian State in the season opener, before losing their last two to Davidson and Kentucky. ETSU’s only road win this season came against Presbyterian.

For more information on ETSU men’s soccer please visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men’s soccer links.