Soccer Bucs get first victory; blank Lincoln 3-0

TENNERTON – Three first-half goals propelled the Buckhannon-Upshur soccer Bucs to their first victory of the year when they defeated Lincoln Cougars by a 3-0 score in Big 10 Conference action at the high school.

The Bucs picked up their first win despite some line-up changes due to illness and injury.

“It took a little bit to get some rhythm and movement on the ball due to changes in the lineup due to illness and injury,” noted Buckhannon-Upshur head coach Mike Donato.

Gavin Harvey gave the Bucs a 1-0 lead in the 13^th minute when he played a drop back pass from Noah Radabaugh and scored with a shot just over the goal line.

Three minutes later, Christian Dowell made it a 2-0 B-U lead when he took a centering pass and scored to the back post with a shot from 20 yards out.

Caleb Haney wrapped up the B-U scoring in the 20^th minute after accepting a centering pass across the goal from Tim Snyder and with the Lincoln keeper out, he placed a shot to the near post and in for the goal.

“Even though we created chances and eventually moved the ball well, it still isn’t quite to the level that I know we’re capable of playing,” stated Donato. “I gave the team a lot of credit because we did the most important thing we look to do in any game and that is to get a shutout. Hopefully we can look to make corrections and get ready for Preston Thursday.”

The Bucs owned a 14-2 lead in shots-on-goal and held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Buckhannon-Upshur was guilty of seven fouls while Lincoln was called for four.

In the net for the Bucs, Dalton Auvil made two saves while Slaton Kowalkoski didn’t see a shot. Ty Williams made 11 saves for the Cougars.

The Bucs are now 1-3-1 overall and 1-0-1 in the Big 10.

They will play again Thursday hosting Preston at 5:30 p.m.