Posted: Nov 25, 2008
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GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum College men's soccer
team wrapped up the most successful season in program history,
advancing into the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament for
the second time in school history, as well as capturing the South
Atlantic Conference and Food Lion SAC Tournament titles.The Pioneers (20-3-1) established seven team and individual records this season en route to their second consecutive SAC crown. Tusculum won a school record 20 matches this fall, becoming the third team in conference history to win 20 or more contests in a season. The Pioneers also played in a program-best 24 matches while making their second appearance in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.
Junior goalkeeper Lance Moore rewrote much of the program record books this year, establishing two single-season marks and three career records. A native of Morristown, Tenn., Moore set a new school and SAC-record with 12 shutouts this season in a program-best 2198 minutes played for the Pioneers. The SAC Tournament MVP has also set new program records in career goals against average (1.27), shutouts (18), and save percentage (.770) in his two seasons with the black and orange.
Senior forward Bruno Conceicão has established himself as one of the most prolific scorers in TC history over the past two years, moving to seventh on the all-time list at Tusculum with 45 goals and 106 points in his 44 matches. The 2008 SAC Player of the Year and Daktronics Southeast Region Player of the Year ends his career in the black and orange with 15 match-winning goals, which place him second all-time at TC.
A total of nine Pioneers were recognized by the SAC for their outstanding performances this fall, including head coach Brett Teach who was named SAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. Five members of the black and orange were named to the All-SAC First Team, tying the record set by the 2002 squad. Conceicão, Anteneh Lemma, Lucas Paulini, Sven Meyer and Rory McCook were all named to the first team.
The program also produced its second SAC Freshman of the Year in as many seasons, as forward Nick Rich joined Paulini and Dave Bailey as the third player in school history to earn the honor. Tusculum also tied a program record with seven players on the All-SAC teams, as Scott Lucky and Moore earned second team recognition.
Tusculum also set a school record with seven players on the Daktronics All-Southeast Region teams, including Conceicão, who became the first player in program history to be named Region Player of the Year. Joining the senior forward on the first team were Lemma, Lucky, Meyer, and Moore, while Paulini and McCook were selected to the second team.
The Pioneers will be poised for another run deep into the postseason next year, as TC returns nine of its starting 11 and eight of its top 10 scorers from this season's squad, including sophomore midfielders Lemma and Paulini.
- TC
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