Defense, desire driving ETSU women’s soccer in 2024

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Classes don’t begin for another two weeks at ETSU, but the Lady Bucs are already preparing for the season opener on Thursday.

The squad has two exhibitions under its belt, at Appalachian State and Virginia Tech, but the contest later this week in Birmingham.

The Blue and Gold returns nine starters from a stellar 2023 squad that finished the year 11-3-5. ETSU was the No. 2 seed in the SoCon Tournament, before falling in the semifinals to Samford.

The defense played a large part in that success, allowing just 10 goals in 19 matches, while recording eleven clean sheets. With the return of First Team All-Socon performers, center-back Sydney Somogyi and goalkeeper Ashton Blair, the back line will be formidable again.

Almost as formidable as the squad’s desire to win.

“I think why we were so successful is we knew each other so well and it was kind of like an unspoken thing,” Somogyi said. “I mean, of course we’re wanting to talk on the field, but I think we read each other so well.”

“We just have so much heart,” Blair explained. “We’re just close and we have each other’s backs – and I think we’re just so eager to do well. Be like, yeah, come mess with us, you know?”

“I think a lot of it comes from the kids we recruit,” head coach Jay Yelton said. “We recruit potential and then they show up with the right mentality each day. Like I said, they motivate me on days when I’m low because their energy is so high.”

Kickoff against UAB on Thursday is slated for 8 p.m. ET. The Blue and Gold will play Eastern Kentucky in their home opener on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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