Pioneers play to 1-1 tie with Anderson

Pioneers play to 1-1 tie with Anderson

ANDERSON, S.C. --- Tusculum University and Anderson University played to a 1-1 draw in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action Saturday evening.

The Pioneers (6-4-3, 3-2-2 SAC) took the lead early in the first half, but the Trojans (5-5-1, 5-1-1 SAC) answered before halftime as the teams played to a draw for the fourth time in 11 all-time meetings.

Both goalkeepers did their part to keep the match deadlocked, as the Pioneers' Bailey Bosler tallied 11 saves and the Trojans' Abby Helm finished with seven stops. Tusculum outshot Anderson 20-16 in the match, including 6-3 in overtime.

Tusculum took a 1-0 lead at 14:16 of the first half on an own goal, as a cross from Nicole McMillen caromed off an Anderson defender and into the goal past Helm.

The Pioneers nearly took a 2-0 lead in the 36th minute as Yvette Raaijen attempted a header off a corner kick, but the Trojans' Melanie Maddox was in position to head the shot off the line.

Less than a minute later, the Trojans' Cassidy Wheaton eluded a defender in the box and went to the far post against Bosler to tie the game at 1-1 at 36:23.

Kate Guildford almost put the Pioneers on top early in the second half, but her shot from 15 yards was tipped high by Helm and off the crossbar. The Pioneer defense helped out Bosler in the 51st minute as a shot from Kirsten Armetta was steered wide of target by Tusculum defender Kenzie Ellenburg.

Tusculum nearly found the winning goal late in regulation, but a shot from the Pioneers' Sonja Ballmert was deflected by Helm and off the crossbar with just over a minute left.

In the first overtime, Anderson had the only shot on goal off the foot of Armetta, which was stopped by Bosler with just over three minutes remaining.

The Trojans had one final chance for the win late in the second overtime period as Armetta broke in alone on the right side, but her shot from 15 yards was easily collected by Bosler with 15 seconds left.

The match featured 10 fouls to each team and a total of six cards, five to the Pioneers. Tusculum had a 9-4 edge in corner kicks, while Anderson was flagged for offsides once.

Tusculum will return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at Lincoln Memorial for a 1 p.m. start with the Railsplitters.