ROCK HILL, S.C. --- What started off as a close match turned into an offensive shootout as the No. 2-seeded Tusculum Pioneers defeated No. 3-seeded Wingate, 6-2, behind four goals from Bruno Conceicão in a semifinal contest of the 2007 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Soccer Tournament. The match was held Friday afternoon at Manchester Meadows.

Tusculum (11-7-2) ranked No. 23 in NCAA Division II, advances to Sunday's 1 p.m. final against fellow SAC co-champion Lincoln Memorial.

Tusculum opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, when Dean Hopewell poked in a cross from SAC Freshman of the Year Lucas Paulini. The Pioneers' 1-0 advantage would hold at the break.

In the 55th minute, Conceicão would score on a breakaway, beginning a flurry of goals that saw the teams combine for five goals in ten minutes.

Conceicão, an All-SAC First Team honoree, put TC up 3-0 on another breakaway in the 56th minute, and the Pioneers would take go up 4-0 on a penalty kick from Telmo Dantes. Conceicão was taken down from behind by Wingate's Ben Clark, resulting in a spot kick for the Pioneers and a straight red card for Clark.

Despite being down to 10 men, Wingate (No. 8 in NCAA II) continued their offensive pressure, scoring two goals in the next three minutes. Adam Cunningham claimed WU's first score by putting away his own rebound in the 62nd minute, and Kerrin Sheldon cut the deficit to 4-2 on a penalty kick in the 64th minute.

But Conceicão would put the finishing touches on the convincing victory for the Pioneers with breakaway goals in the 72nd and 76th minutes. Anteneh Lemma, an All-SAC Second Team selection, recorded two assists in the match, while Boazin Katina assisted on the final goal of the fray.

Wingate out-shot the Pioneers, 19-11, in the match, but Tusculum goalkeeper Lance Moore made 10 saves to keep the TC lead safe. Joey Calandra made one save for the Bulldogs.

Tusculum will be in quest of its third SAC Tournament title since joining the league in 1999. The Pioneers won the tournament crown in 1999 and again in 2004. Tusculum is 2-1 all-time in its three previous trips to the tournament final.



- SAC -


Soccer Game Summary (Final)
The Automated ScoreBook For Soccer
#8 Wingate vs #23 Tusculum (Nov 02, 2007 at Rock Hill, S.C.)

Wingate (16-4-1) vs. Tusculum (11-7-2)
Date: Nov 02, 2007 Attendance: 217



Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Wingate............. 0 2 - 2
Tusculum............ 1 5 - 6

S CORING SUMMARY:
1. 41:21 TCM Dean Hopewell (Lucas Paulini)
2. 54:28 TCM Bruno Conceicao (16) (Anteneh Lemma)
3. 55:24 TCM Bruno Conceicao (17) (Anteneh Lemma)
4. 57:32 TCM Telmo Dantes Penalty kick
5. 61:12 WUM Adam Cunningham (2) (unassisted) - rebound goal
6. 63:54 WUM Chris Bohach Penalty kick
7. 71:10 TCM Bruno Conceicao (18) (unassisted)
8. 75:30 TCM Bruno Conceicao (19) (Boazin Katina)

Shots: Wingate 19, Tusculum 11
Saves: Wingate 1 (Joey Calandra 1), Tusculum 10 (Lance Moore 10)