GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Mikie Rowe scored two goals and Carlos Gomez added a goal and two assists as fifth-ranked Young Harris College defeated Tusculum University 4-0 in non-conference men's soccer action Wednesday night at Pioneer Field.
Val Feeney also scored for the Mountain Lions (3-0-0), who have outscored their opponents 12-0 through three matches. The Pioneers (2-1-0) also entered Wednesday's match having not allowed a goal in their first two games, but saw that streak snapped just 2 1/2 minutes into the first half.
Young Harris had just an 11-10 edge in shots over Tusculum, but made the most of its opportunities as four of its seven shots on goal found the net.
Tusculum had the first shot of the game in the second minute off the foot of Henrique Devens, but Young Harris keeper Alex Iglesias made the save. Less than a minute later, Gomez delivered a through ball to Rowe who beat Pioneer keeper Alejandro Quiriti to the far side for a 1-0 Mountain Lions lead at 2:25.
The Pioneers had another look from Devens in the seventh minute, but his shot was deflected out of bounds by the defense. Oscar Rubio Jimenez threatened in the 10th minute for the Pioneers, but Iglesias was equal with a lunging save to his left.
Devens had a chance from straightaway with just over two minutes left in the half, but Iglesias made the stop from 30 yards away as Young Harris carried a 1-0 lead into the locker room.
Rowe nearly gave Young Harris a 2-0 lead in the first minute of the second half, but Quiriti used his feet to deflect a shot past the frame and force a corner kick. Feeney wound up delivering the second goal at 54:50 as he took a feed from Gomez and cranked a shot to the top corner from 25 yards.
Tusculum tried to get on the scoreboard midway through the half, but Iglesias had a save on Mathias Grimstad in the 67th minute and Clement Dagorn cranked a drive that sailed just over the crossbar in the 72nd minute.
The Mountain Lions converted a short corner into their third goal at 75:09, as Dani Fischer took a pass back from Seba Andreassen and found the head of Rowe, who delivered his fifth goal of the season and second of the match.
Gomez closed the scoring at 83:08 as a backpass was misplayed at the top of the box, which he collected and chipped into the open goal for his fourth tally of the season.
Young Harris had a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks in the match, while Tusculum was called for 16 fouls to 13 by the Mountain Lions.
Iglesias finished with five saves in his third shutout of the season for Young Harris, while Quiriti had three stops for the Pioneers.
Tusculum will face another ranked opponent in their first road match of the season on Saturday, when the Pioneers visit 10th-ranked Lander for a 7 p.m. contest.
