GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Sebastian Bertilsson scored the winning goal with 5:16 left in the second half as Mars Hill University defeated Tusculum University 1-0 in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer action Thursday night at Pioneer Field.

Tusculum (1-1-0, 0-1-0 SAC) played the entire second half a man down after being shown a straight card late in the first half. Despite the shortage on the field, the Pioneer defense held the Lions (1-0-1, 1-0-0 SAC) to seven shot attempts in the match and just four in the second half. The Pioneers finished the contest with six shot attempts, with one on target in each half.

Mars Hill put two shots on goal in the first 10 minutes, forcing Tusculum keeper Joao Kozlowski to make saves on Jeppe Christensen in the third minute and Bertilsson in the 10th minute. The Pioneers' first shot attempt was on target by Jean-Pierre Vital in the 12th minute, but was handled by Lion keeper Brennan Whalen. A physical first half culminated on the Pioneers' Harry Easterby being sent off for a hard tackle with 2:37 left in the half, but Kozlowski came through with a save on Christensen following the restart to keep the match scoreless at half.

Kozlowski came through with a solid save on a shot from Mars Hill's Tatum Cartner in the 64th minute, and the match seemed to be heading toward extra time until the Lions' Rasmus Nielsen lofted a ball down the right win for Luke Manley, whose one-touch pass to the box was played off the head of Bertilsson and sneaked past Kozlowski for a 1-0 Mars Hill lead in the 85th minute. Tusculum had no further scoring chances and Mars Hill was able to bleed the clock deep in Tusculum territory to secure the win.

Mars Hill had a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal, with Whalen making two saves for the clean sheet for the Lions and Kozlowski finishing with four saves for the Pioneers. Mars Hill had an 8-2 edge in corner kicks while Tusculum was called for 14 fouls to 12 by the Lions.

Tusculum is scheduled to resume its spring schedule on Thursday, March 4 at 3:30 p.m. at Lincoln Memorial University.