HICKORY, N.C. --- The Tusculum College men's soccer team wrapped up its 2011 regular season with a 1-1 tie at Lenoir-Rhyne University in a South Atlantic Conference match Sunday afternoon.

The Pioneers (7-7-3, 6-1-2 SAC) are the number two seed in the upcoming Food Lion SAC Tournament, and will turn around and host the seventh-seeded Bears (7-8-3, 3-4-2 SAC) Tuesday at 7 p.m. in quarterfinal action at Pioneer Field. Tournament play concludes with Friday's semifinals and Sunday's finals at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, S.C.

Tusculum was forced to come from behind as Lenoir-Rhyne scored first at 11:38 on a goal by Mehmet Karakilinc. The Bears nursed the lead into the final 17 minutes of action, but the Pioneers got the equalizer at 73:41 as a shot ricocheted off a L-R defender into the goal for an own goal.

Lenoir-Rhyne nearly won the game early in the first overtime period, but a shot by the Bears' Daniel Jones was knocked away by the Tusculum defense. The Pioneers' best opportunity came midway through the second extra period as Stephen McNeill's free kick was saved by L-R keeper Stefan Dill.

Tusculum held the edge in the shot department over Lenoir-Rhyne by a 20-19 margin, including an 11-8 lead in shots on goal. Each side had five corner kicks, while the Pioneers were whistled for 16 fouls to 14 by the Bears. Pioneer keeper Andy Goellner made six saves in the match, while Dill tallied 10 stops.

- TC -