MIAMI SHORES, Fla. --- Two second-half goals allowed Tusculum University to defeat Barry University 2-0 in non-conference women's soccer action Friday evening at Buccaneer Field.
Tina Haig scored in the 59th minute and Chelsea Sheerin added an insurance goal with seven seconds left for the Pioneers (2-1-0), who were outshot 14-8 by the Bucs (0-3-0) but put seven of their eight shots on target in the match compared to just five by Barry.
Haig's goal came on a rebound at 58:26 to give Tusculum a 1-0 lead, and Sheerin scored in the final seconds on an open net as the Pioneers won their second straight match as part of their season-opening stretch of nine consecutive road contests.
Cecilie Ting Mortensen earned her first shutout as a Pioneer goalkeeper by making five saves, three coming in the second half, while Rose Hemans had five saves for the Bucs in goal.
Haig had the first shot on goal for the Pioneers in the sixth minute, and Mortensen came up with her first stop in the 11th minute on the Bucs' Ellen Cederin. Karla Wolstenholme nearly gave Barry a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute, but her shot caromed off the crossbar, and Ari Cerezuela also found the woodwork in the 43rd minute as the match stayed scoreless into halftime.
In the second half, Hemans stopped the Pioneers' Kenzie Ellenburg in the 49th minute for the only shot on goal for either team in the first 12 minutes in the half. The Pioneers then broke the stalemate at 58:26 as Brooke Radcliffe served a pass from the far right side that Haig headed toward the goal, then was able to deposit the loose ball past Hemans for her first career goal.
Mortensen preseved the Pioneer lead with saves on Emma Lillback in the 65th minute and Cerezuela in the 65th minute. Barry's last shot attempt was a try from the right side by Minda Forsblom with just under four minutes to play that Mortensen scooped up.
With the Tusculum defense content to clear the ball long in the final minutes, the Pioneers caught a break as a miscommunication between Hemans and a Barry defender allowed Sheerin to steal the ball at the top of the box and dribble in uncontested for her first career goal with seven seconds remaining.
The Pioneers were called for 17 fouls to 16 by the Bucs, while Barry had a 3-2 edge in corner kicks. Tusculum was flagged for all three offsides called in the match.
Tusculum will conclude its Florida swing with a match at Nova Southeastern on Sunday at noon. The Sharks are off to a 3-0 start this season, outscoring their opponents by a 26-0 margin in the three victories.
