GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Nicky Matthews scored a hat trick as Lenoir-Rhyne University downed Tusculum College 4-1 in the teams' South Atlantic Conference men's soccer regular-season finale Saturday night at Pioneer Field.

Matthews scored in the 44th, 69th and 86th minutes for the Bears (10-7, 5-4 SAC), who outshot the Pioneers (2-12-3, 1-8 SAC) 23-5 overall and 15-0 in the second half as Tusculum played a man down for the final 46 minutes.

The Pioneers jumped to a 1-0 lead at 13:37 as a ball deflected high in the box and was headed home by David Montes for his second goal of the season. The Bears came back to even the score at 1-1 just 1:21 before halftime when a shot from the top of the box by Matthews squirted through for his 10th goal of the season.

Tusculum was forced to play a man down in the second half after a red card was issued in the final minute of the first half, and Lenoir-Rhyne took advantage at 58:11 as a long cross by Dave Bailey was put home at the far post by George Wilson for his second goal of the year and a 2-1 Bear lead.

Matthews tacked on his second goal of the game at 59:48 from just outside the goal line, assisted by Bailey, to give Lenoir-Rhyne a 3-1 advantage. He then finished off the hat trick with 4:56 remaining by firing home a crossing pass by Holmes to set the final score of 4-1.

Andy Goellner made 10 saves in goal for the Pioneers, including several point-blank stops, while Tom Heath recorded four stops to earn the win for the Bears.

- TC -