WINGATE, N.C. --- Roberto Pimentel scored his third goal of the season, but the Tusculum College men's soccer team was defeated 3-1 by Wingate University on Saturday evening in Wingate, N.C. Shaun Gadsby registered a hat-trick for the Bulldogs.

TC sees its record fall to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the South Atlantic Conference, while Wingate improves to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the SAC. The Bulldogs' Stephen Banick earned the win in goal after making five saves. The Pioneers' Jorge Alvarez took the loss in his first career start in the net despite making three saves.

Pimentel and Jonathan Spicher led TC with two shots each, and Cody Kammerzell and Nick Garst also registered a shot on frame. The Pioneers held a 6-4 advantage on corner kicks while the Bulldogs held a narrow 10-9 advantage on shots.

Two of Gadsby's goals came in the first half. He opened the scoring in just the third minute after corralling a one-timer from Charlie Machell which he buried into the left corner. Machell was credited with an assist on the goal.

In the 32nd minute, Wingate's Gui Peron got behind the Pioneer defense and found Gadsby wide open on the far post, and he put the ball in the back of the net to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. Wingate took the two-goal advantage to the half. Peron and Machell tallied assists on the score.

The Pioneers cut the deficit in half in the 56th minute on Pimentel's goal. TC's Mason Fox crossed the ball to the far post and found Pimentel, who beat the keeper on the opposite side. Fox was credited with the assist on the goal.

It wasn't too long before Wingate re-gained its two-goal advantage. In the 63rd minute, Peron took a free kick from midfield which was headed to Gadsby by James Scott, that set up Gadsby to complete the hat-trick and put Wingate up 3-1. The Bulldogs held on to that advantage for the final 27 minutes to claim the victory.

The Pioneers received four yellow cards during the contest while the Bulldogs were cautioned three times. TC's Garst, Guillermo Lazcano, Kyle Dickson, and Conor McKenna all received cards. For Wingate, Scott, Machell, and Victor Tozelli also were shown yellow cards.

The Pioneers will be back in action on Wednesday night (Oct. 1) when they travel to Jefferson City, Tennessee, to face arch-rival Carson-Newman University. Match time is set for 7 p.m.