JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. --- Carson-Newman University scored twice in the second half, including the winning goal with 5:51 remaining, to defeat Tusculum University 2-1 in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action Wednesday afternoon.
Jente Kuper scored the go-ahead goal for the Eagles (4-2-2, 3-2-0 SAC) after Savannah Fields scored the equalizer in the 56th minute. Alisa Heininger assisted on both goals for Carson-Newman, which outshot Tusculum by a 20-6 margin.
Brianna Garcia's goal just about 30 minutes into the match gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead that they carried into halftime, but the Pioneers were unable to put a shot on goal in the second half as the Eagles had a 13-3 shot margin after intermission. The loss snapped a two-match SAC winning streak for the Pioneers.
The first shot of the match came in the fourth minute as Carson-Newman's Nellie Bryneus redirected a cross on goal which was saved by Tusculum keeper Emma Harriman. The Eagles had the first five shots attempts before the Pioneers got their first shot in the 15th minute, but Tusculum's opportunity was a good one as Julianne Fox got behind the defense only to see Carson-Newman keeper Hope Doyle come off her line to smother the attempt. Kenzie Ellenburg had a shot about a minute later from the top of the box but Doyle collected her rolling attempt.
Garcia gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead at 29:57 as she took a throw-in from Arisa Timoll, split two defenders and fired a shot just inside the far post for her first goal of the season.
The Eagles had little in response after Garcia's goal, as Kate Zander shot high in the 33rd minute and Fields was off target in the final minute. Tusculum had another scoring chance in the 37th minute as a free kick from Yvette Raaijen sailed into the box and was headed just wide by Ellenburg.
Carson-Newman had two shots in the first two minutes of the second half, and Harriman made a save on a shot from distance by Addie Henry in the 55th minute. The Eagles would get the tying goal at 55:48 as two quick passes in the box from Heininger and Bryneus set up a one-timer from Fields that she chipped over Harriman from 15 yards.
The Eagles nearly took the lead in the 62nd minute, but a shot by Sydnee Duncan off a corner kick was played away by Tusculum's Ashlie McFarlane. The teams then settled in defensively, with the best chance a shot high of the target by Fields with 10 minutes left.
With overtime looming, the Eagles were awarded a corner kick with just over six minutes to play. The service from Abbie Zander went to the head of Heininger, whose pass back to the front caromed off Harriman to Kuper, who knocked home the go-ahead goal with 5:51 to play.
Harriman finished with three saves in goal for the Pioneers, with Doyle making a pair of stops for the Eagles. Carson-Newman had a 5-3 edge in corner kicks, and Tusculum was called for seven fouls to three for the Pioneers.
Tusculum will return to the road to face Anderson on Saturday at 5 p.m.
