JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. --- Carson-Newman University scored three goals in the final 25 minutes to come away with a 3-1 victory over Tusculum University in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer Wednesday afternoon.
The Eagles (5-6-5, 3-5-3 SAC) secured the eighth and final berth in the upcoming SAC Championship tournament with the victory, while knocking the Pioneers (8-5-3, 3-5-3 SAC) out of the postseason in the process.
Mitchell Honcoop, Daniel Vennesland and Maxime Wester scored for the Eagles, who outshot the Pioneers 17-14 in the match. Tusculum's lone goal came from Gui Busato in the 24th minute, and stood until Honcoop netted the equalizer in the 66th minute, followed by the go-ahead tally from Vennesland in the 75th minute and an insurance goal from Wester with just over a minute to play.
Tusculum had the first chance of the match in the fifth minute as Cristobal Morales tracked down a through pass at the top of the box, but his attempt was smothered by Carson-Newman keeper Federico Simonetti. Moments later, the Eagles appeared to take a 1-0 lead but the play was flagged down by offsides.
Carson-Newman's first shot came in the 13th minute, as a low attempt by the Eagles' Vennesland was smothered by Pioneer keeper Nicolas Leite. Just over a minute later, J-P Vital had a close attempt from an angle for the Pioneers that was knocked out by Simonetti.
The Pioneers would grab a 1-0 lead at 23:05 as a cross from Asbjorn Saevik was played in by Busato at the far post for his third goal of the season.
Vital had a chance in the 28th minute but his shot from 10 yards whistled over the crossbar. In the 31st minute, the Eagles sent a cross into the box to Bart Schijvenaars but his header was well off target. Leite would make his second save of the match in the 35th minute off an attempt from Honcoop, and added a stop on subsitute Tim Haans in the 37th minute.
In the 39th minute, the Eagles earned a corner kick, which led to a header at the far post by Dan Coles that was cleared off the line on a header by Devin Vital. A late attempt by Morales in the final seconds went wide of the target as the Pioneers carried their 1-0 advantage into intermission.
Morales had a shot attempt early in the second half that was saved by Simonetti, while the Eagles' Wester sent a shot wide of the target in the 54th minute. Busato got a look in the 64th minute but sent a shot left of the goal.
The Eagles earned a free kick in the 66th minute at 25 yards, and Honcoop's strike hooked over the wall and into the top left corner for his second goal of the season and a 1-1 tie at 65:25.
Carson-Newman grabbed a 2-1 lead at 74:47 as a quick give-and-go from Haans sprung Vennesland behind the defense, and he beat Leite to the far post to his first goal of the season.
Down a goal, Saevik nearly earned the equalizer with five minutes left as he dribbled through three defenders and took a shot from 15 yards that was off target to the left. Busato took a shot from the top of the box that ended in a routine save by Simonetti with 3:35 to play, while Leite came through with a one-on-one save against Rhydian Williams with just over two minutes remaining to keep the Pioneers in the match.
Tusculum's last chance came with 1:33 left as Artur Marques turned at 15 yards and took a high shot that was grabbed by Simonetti. At the other end, the Eagles broke free behind the defense and Wester chipped a shot over Leite for his second goal of the season with 1:10 remaining for a 3-1 margin.
Simonetti finished with five saves in goal for the Eagles, while Leite made four saves for the Pioneers. Tusculum had a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks, and Carson-Newman was flagged five times for offsides to four for the Pioneers.
