GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tramicka James recorded the match-winning goal in the 76th minute to lead the Tusculum College Women's soccer team to a 3-2 South Atlantic Conference win over visiting Mars Hill College Wednesday night at Pioneer Field.
The Pioneers (11-3, 4-1 SAC) dominated possession during the match, out-shooting the Lady Lions (1-10, 0-4 SAC) by a 29-8 margin, including 18-4 in shots on goal.
Tusculum junior Amber Marceau (Grayson, Ga.) got the Pioneers on the scoreboard first in the 36th minute when she blasted a shot from 40 yards out that found the top shelf. Marceau's goal, her second of the year, was assisted by Kourtney Kavic (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) and Michelle Meade (Greeneville, Tenn.).
TC made it a two-goal differential when Kavic found the back of the net for the fourth time this season at the 54:12 mark as she took a crossing pass from James (Wilson, N.C.) and tapped the ball by MHC keeper Chelsea Parker (Richmond, Va.) for a 2-0 advantage.
Six minutes later, Mars Hill cut the deficit in half when Abby Martin (Greer, S.C.) scored her fourth goal of the year as she found the back of the net inside the far post at the 61:13 mark.
Tusculum got the tally back at the 75:38 mark as James scored her team-leading seventh goal of the year, which was assisted by Marceau.
The Pioneers, who held a 19-8 shot advantage in the second half, still had to hold off a late MHC charge as Austen Ward's (Weaverville, N.C.) shot in the 88th minute, hit off of Tusculum keeper Rachael Jennings (Asheville, N.C.) and trickled just over the goal line to trim the TC lead to 3-2.
Mars Hill would mount one more attack, but the Pioneer defense held their line to preserve the Tusculum victory and clinch TC its 11th straight winning season.
Parker and Jennings both went the distance for their respective squads. Parker tallied 14 saves, while Jennings stopped two of the four shots that were on-frame for the visitors.
Tusculum will be off until next Wednesday when the Pioneers host King College for a 5 p.m. match. Mars Hill will be at Wingate University this Saturday night for a 7 p.m. contest.
- TC -
