GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Cierra Skyers scored goals 25 seconds apart with less than six minutes remaining as Belmont Abbey College rallied for a 2-1 victory over Tusculum College in non-conference women's soccer action Tuesday evening at Pioneer Field.
The Crusaders (14-2-1) were in danger of seeing their 11-match winning streak come to an end after giving up a goal in the second minute to the Pioneers (10-4-2), but Skyers netted her team-high ninth and 10th goals of the season at 84:08 and 84:33 to rally her team to victory.
Tusculum took a 1-0 lead at 1:09 of the first half as Sonja Ballmert headed home a corner kick from Olivia Kilgore for her second goal of the season. The Pioneers made the lead hold up through the half, outshooting the Crusaders by a 6-4 margin in the opening 45 minutes.
The Pioneers nearly went ahead 2-0 in the 50th minute, but a free kick from Katja Andersson caromed off the top of the crossbar. Pioneer keeper Miriah Martin made three saves in a nine-minute span to preserve the 1-0 advantage, while Crusader keeper Kaitlyn Paul kept her team in the match with saves on Payton DeHart in the 77th minute and Carly Mill in the 83rd minute.
With just under six minutes to go, Tallee Zamiela set up Skyers in the box and she fired home the equalizing goal with 5:52 left on the clock. Just 25 seconds later, a turnover in the Pioneer defensive end led to a service by Nicole Ferren that Skyers headed past Martin for a 2-1 Belmont Abbey lead. The go-ahead goal from Skyers would be the last shot attempt by either team, as the Crusader defense kept the Pioneers from mounting any time of last-ditch rally.
Martin finished with seven saves in goal for the Pioneers, while Paul had five stops for the Crusaders. Belmont Abbey outshot Tusculum 9-4 in the second half and 13-10 in the match, while holding an 11-6 advantage in corner kicks.
Tusculum will close its regular season on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Wingate. The Pioneers, who are already guaranteed at least a share of their first SAC title since 2004, can win the championship outright with a win or tie against the Bulldogs.
