Geno strikes again for his third game-winner as Coulter records his fifth shutout

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Sept. 20, 2011) – Fresh off his game-winning goal over Davidson on Saturday night, sophomore local product David Geno (Kingsport, Tenn.) did it again, scoring the game-winning goal in the 77th minute to lift the 22nd-ranked ETSU men’s soccer team past ACC foe Virginia Tech, 1-0, on Tuesday night at Summers-Taylor Stadium.

“I'm very pleased with our players tonight,” said head coach Scott Calabrese. “They showed a real commitment to work hard and defend for 90 minutes, and that was the gameplan and they were able to follow it.

“We had some outstanding performances and it's really hard to single anyone out on a night like tonight when it's a real team win, but I thought Frank Doumbe (Silver Spring, Md), in particular, had a real good performance. He's really dangerous and is a very [quick] attacker. I also thought the back line and the holding midfielder, Blaike Woodruff (Georgetown, Texas), were very solid. When we play to our potential and we work hard, we're going to be successful so I was very pleased with everyone."

The scoreless game trickled into the 77th minute; however, that’s when Geno and junior Frank Doumbe (Silver Spring, Md.) put the game away for ETSU. Bolting down the near side of the field, Doumbe crossed in a ball from near the corner that met Geno inside the six-yard box, and it was all too easy for the in-state talent to net his fourth goal of the season, third game-winner, to give the Bucs the lead and eventual victory.

“Frank made a great run down the right side and did all the hard work,” said Geno about his goal. “He cut it back and I just found myself in the right spot and put it in.”

ETSU (6-1-0) extended its win streak to three games, and has now won 15-consecutive home matches against unranked teams. The Bucs outshot the Hokies 14-10, and fought off two Virginia Tech corner attempts through game’s final minutes to hold on for the victory.

Redshirt sophomore Ryan Coulter (Dublin, Ireland) made two saves off the Hokies’ 10 shot attempts to record his conference-leading fifth shutout of the season.

Virginia Tech (3-4-0, 1-1-0 ACC) has now dropped two in row after having won three straight, including a win over then-No. 1 North Carolina back on Sept. 10.

Five minutes into the match it was Tech who threatened first. Ben Strong sent in a corner for the Hokies that David Fiorello connected with, but the attempt was sent wide of goal.

The Bucs responded with a few set pieces of their own, as Alesi Osorio (Austin, Texas) sent four attempts in from the corner over a 12-minute span. Although constantly threatening, ETSU managed just one shot attempt from sophomore Itode Fubara (Ogbema, Nigeria) that was saved by Tech’s Kyle Renfro.

Holding the possession battle, the Bucs went on to outshoot Tech, 7-5, through the first 45 minutes with a, 5-1, advantage from the corner.

In the second half, senior Aaron Schoenfeld (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Osorio got the action started, firing off the first two chances for ETSU. Schoenfeld took an attempt at goal less than 90 seconds after the half started, but put his shot wide. Osorio’s shot was on goal, but Renfro was there again to make his fourth save of the match.

The Hokies seemed to turn the tables on ETSU through the middle portion of the period, taking five shots and four corner kicks before the Buccaneers could get off any tries of their own. Coulter and the ETSU back line weathered the Tech storm that included a series in which Coulter made a save from right in front that rebounded back out in the box. The deflection gave Tech’s Ethan Ashong a clear view of goal, but the constant ETSU defensive pressure forced Ashong’s shot high and kept the game scoreless.

Moments later Geno took advantage of Tech’s missed opportunity, striking for his fourth goal of the year. Virginia Tech battled tough through the closing moments, but managed just one shot off two set pieces, and the Buccaneers walked away victorious.

In the midst of a stretch of four games in nine days, the ETSU men’s soccer team will travel to Winthrop on Friday, September 23, to take on the Eagles at 7 p.m.

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