GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- A goal in each half helped Lees-McRae College to a 2-1 win over Tusculum University in non-conference men's soccer action Friday evening at Pioneer Field.
Fletcher Dyson scored on a penalty kick in the first half and assisted on the eventual winning goal by Harrison Watts in the 51st minute for the Bobcats (2-1-1), who were outshot 15-9 by the Pioneers (0-1-2) but received eight saves in goal from Joshua Garvilla.
Tusculum's lone goal came in the 72nd minute from Othmane Chagour, but the Pioneers could not equalize despite putting seven shots on goal in the second half to two by the Bobcats.
Other than a shot from the far left side by Tusculum's Lucas Romeiro that was grabbed by Garvilla just 45 seconds into the match, neither team had great opportunities until the 26th minute, when the Pioneers' Gui Busato rolled a shot from 30 yards on goal. In the 35th minute, Tusculum's Damien Baltide had a one-on-one with Garvilla on the right side, but just missed the far post with his shot.
Lees-McRae would go up 1-0 at 35:21 when Watts was taken down in the box for a penalty. Dyson stepped up and went middle on Tusculum keeper Bruno De Freitas, who slowed the shot but could not keep it out of the goal.
Tusculum would have a good chance in the 37th minute but a short cross to Luis De La Fuente was knocked away by Garvilla as the Bobcats carried their one-goal lead into intermission.
Moments after Garvilla came up with a save on Tusculum's Asbjorn Saevik, the Bobcats would go up 2-0 at 58:40 as a through ball went from Dyson to Watts, who eluded De Freitas at the top of the box and found the open net for his fourth goal of the year.
Tusculum nearly got on the board in the 54th minute as a volley from Michele Di Miele was stopped by Garvilla, and again in the 59th minute as a blast from Baltide at the top of the box went off the fingertips of Garvilla and off the crossbar. Garvilla would add a save on Adam O'Sullivan in the 61st minute.
Lees-McRae looked for a third goal in the 64th minute, but a free kick from Dyson from 30 yards out hit the crossbar and the rebounded was headed high by Alfie Hyett.
The Pioneers broke through at 71:04 as Ignacio Alconchel collected the ball at the top of the box and set up Chagour for a low shot from 20 yards to the far post past Garvilla, giving the freshman his first career goal.
Tusculum almost tied the score in the 77th minute, but a shot from Busato was cleared off the line by Lees-McRae defender Bryce Hamilton and the rebound went over the top of the goal by Baltide. Tusculum's last shot would come from Busato with just over three minutes left, but his turn and shot was deflected wide.
De Freitas finished with two saves in goal for the Pioneers, who took six corner kicks to three by the Bobcats. Lees-McRae was called for 12 fouls to seven by Tusculum, while the Pioneers were shown the only caution of the match.
Tusculum will host Lenoir-Rhyne in its South Atlantic Conference opener on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Pioneer Field. The Bears and Pioneers have tied each of the last two seasons, and the Bears are off to a 1-0-1 start heading into Sunday's match at Barry.
