HARROGATE, Tenn. --- Tusculum College extended its best start since 2004 as the 18th-ranked Pioneers defeated Lincoln Memorial University 2-0 in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer action Wednesday afternoon.
The Pioneers (6-0-0, 3-0-0 SAC), who entered the NSCAA Division II poll earlier this week for the first time since 2009, have won each of their first six matches for the first time since the 2004 squad began the year with a 9-0-0 record en route to an appearance in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. It was also the third straight win for Tusculum over an NSCAA Southeast Region ranked opponent, as the Pioneers were fourth and the Railsplitters (4-3-0, 1-2-0 SAC) were ninth in this week's regional rankings.
Nathaniel Scere and Andre De Giorgi scored goals for the Pioneers, who were outshot 20-14 by the Railsplitters but scored on their first two shots on goal to build the lead. Jorge Alvarez, the reigning SAC Player of the Week, finished with six saves for his second shutout of the season and the 12th of his career.
Tusculum outshot Lincoln Memorial 9-6 in the first half, but put just one shot on goal. However, that shot came off the head of Scere following a corner kick by Tyler Linkous, and gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead at 42:23. The goal was the first career tally for Scere and marks the second straight game that the Pioneers scored off a corner by Linkous.
In the second half, both teams misfired on several chances before the Railsplitters put a shot on goal that Alvarez stopped in the 68th minute. Tusculum eventually put its second shot on goal in the match in the 76th minute, and collected its second goal as De Giorgi took a shot from just outside the box that went off the post and in for his fifth of the season and a 2-0 lead.
From there, the Pioneer defense took over as Alvarez made saves in the 78th and 90th minutes to keep the clean sheet intact. Through six matches, Tusculum has outscored its opponents 9-2 after halftime despite being outshot by a slim 47-46 margin.
August Ahlin finished with one save for the Railsplitters, who had a 6-3 edge in shots on goal in the match. The teams combined for 39 fouls and five cards in the contest, while each team took six corners and were flagged once for offsides.
The Pioneers will look to stay unbeaten on Saturday when they travel to Anderson for a SAC match that begins at 3:30 p.m.
