GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Sonja Ballmert scored the winning goal with 9:29 left in the second half as Tusculum College opened its South Atlantic Conference schedule with a 2-1 win over Queens University of Charlotte in women's soccer action Wednesday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
Ballmert collected a free kick from Olivia Kilgore and fired home her first goal of the season as the Pioneers (3-2-1, 1-0-0 SAC) beat the Royals (2-3-0, 0-1-0 SAC) despite being outshot by a 16-7 margin in the match.
Kilgore finished with a pair of assists for the Pioneers, having set up their first goal by Carly Mill with a corner kick. Thea Mallett scored the only goal for the Royals in the seventh minute on a direct kick.
The Royals had the first quality scoring chance in the 3rd minute as a shot by Alana Jefferson caromed off the top left corner of the frame. Just 2 1/2 minutes later, Queens went on top 1-0 as Mallett fired a free kick from 23 yards past Tusculum keeper Miriah Martin at 6:13. Jefferson hit the top of the crossbar on another shot in the 17th minute as the Royals had the first seven shots of the match.
Tusculum's first shot came on a long blast from Carly Culler in the 27th minute that Queens keeper Rachel Quest was able to jump and direct over the goal. On the ensuing corner kick, Kilgore served the kick into the box and Mill collected and fired past Quest to knot the score at 1-1 at 27:03.
Queens had a 9-3 advantage in shot in the first half, but only three shots apiece were put on goal. Jefferson and Mallett each had three shot attempts for the Royals, while Mill had two of Tusculum's three shots in the opening half.
In the second half, neither team had a shot until Kilgore's long shot off a free kick was grabbed by Quest with 21 1/2 minutes elapsed in the half. Queens had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 78th minute as Mallett found herself one-on-one with Tusculum keeper Martin, but the Pioneer goalie stood her ground and made the save to preserve the tie.
The Pioneers came back with what proved to be the game-winner in the 81st minute as Kilgore drove a long free kick into the box, where Ballmert got position and put home her first goal of the season for a 2-1 Tusculum lead.
The Royals put a pair of shots on goal in the final three minutes from long range, but Martin had no trouble with the saves and the Pioneers came away with the victory.
Martin finished the match with six saves for the Pioneers, while Quest had five stops for the Royals. Queens was whistled for 13 fouls to 12 by Tusculum, and the Royals had a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
Tusculum will continue its home and conference schedule on Saturday at 2 p.m. when Lenoir-Rhyne visits Pioneer Field.
