ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Tusculum goalkeeper Jorge Alvarez stopped third penalty kick try by second-seeded Mars Hill, while his teammates made all five of their attempts in a shootout, including Jonathan Spicher's match-clincher as the sixth-seeded Pioneers punched their ticket for the 2014 South Atlantic Conference Tournament final.

Tusculum (10-6-3) advances to its seventh SAC Tournament final when they face top-seeded Wingate on Sunday at 4 p.m. Semifinal and final matches are being played at Manchester Meadows.

Tusculum and Mars Hill played to a 1-1 draw in regulation and the two overtime periods. TC looked to be heading to a 1-0 win, but the Lions' knocked home the equalizer with 27 seconds remaining in regulation time to send the match into extra frames.

Mars Hill got off a pair of shots on frame in the first overtime period, but TC out-shot the Lions by a 4-1 margin in the second extra OT period.

Senior Roberto Pimentel got the Pioneers on the board in the 21st minute, which was assisted by Tyler Linkous. For Pimentel, it was his 11th goal of the season.

In the penalty kick shootout, Tusculum got goals from Mark Patterson, Guillermo Lazcano, Roberto Pimentel, Tyler Linkous and Jonathan Spicher.

Alvarez finished the match with six saves in the 15 shots he would face. MHU keeper Oliver Pannell posted five saves between the woodwork for the Lions.

Sunday will mark Tusculum's seventh trip to the SAC Tournament final as the Pioneers will be in quest of their fifth championship (1999, 2004, 2008, 2009). It will also be the fourth time Tusculum and Wingate have squared off for the title.

- TC -