A goal in the ninth minute from Amy Neltner stood up as the game-winner as Tusculum College handed Wingate University its first loss of the season by a score of 1-0 in South Atlantic Conference Women's soccer action Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Field.

The defense of the Pioneers (4-3-2, 2-0-1 SAC) took over from there, holding the Bulldogs (5-1-3, 2-1-1 SAC) without a shot attempt in the second half. For the match, Tusculum doubled up Wingate in shots by a margin of 8-4.

Neltner put home the rebound of a shot from Jenique Thombs for her third goal of the season just 8:46 into the match, while Pioneer keeper Marissa Williams made three saves for her fourth consecutive shutout and fifth of the season.

The clean sheet was also the 19th of Williams' career, placing her one shy of the school career record of 20 shutouts set by Jennie Murphy from 1999 to 2002. Williams has not allowed a goal in 386 minutes, 8 seconds, which is the second-longest streak of her career behind a run of 403:11 last season.

The best scoring chance of the second half came in the 67th minute, when Tusculum's Taylor Lewis rolled a shot past Wingate keeper Ashlyn Hardie but off the far post. The Bulldogs had a corner kick with just under three minutes remaining but the Pioneer defense cleared the ball in the last scoring opportunity of the match.

Hardie recorded four saves in goal for Wingate in the match, including three in the second half. The Bulldogs had a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks but were called for 11 of the 15 fouls in the contest.

The Pioneers will resume their schedule next Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. when Anderson visits for a South Atlantic Conference match.