HARROGATE, Tenn. --- Peter Majer scored his second goal of the day on a free kick with 5:25 left to give Lincoln Memorial University a 3-2 victory over Tusculum University in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer action Wednesday afternoon.
Christian Hatley added a goal and an assist for the Railsplitters (4-4-1, 2-2-0 SAC), who let leads of 1-0 and 2-1 slip away before netting the go-ahead goal in the closing minutes. The Pioneers (0-6-2, 0-4-1 SAC) received goals from Luis De La Fuente in the first half and Damien Baltide in the second half, while outshooting Lincoln Memorial by a 15-11 margin.
The Pioneers needed just 2 1/2 minutes to have their first scoring chance of the match, but a free kick from 20 yards by Cristobal Morales went just wide of the near post. Tusculum had another chance in the 12th minute as a long feed from Gael Anrifani connected with De La Fuente, but his flick attempt carried over the crossbar.
De La Fuente would have another opportunity from about 10 yards in the 16th minute, but his volley went high of the target, and Michele Di Miele was wide to the short side in the 21st minute as Tusculum continued to bring the pressure on offense.
However, it would be the Railsplitters that would strike first as Hatley carried down the left side and crossed to Majer, who put a shot past Tusculum keeper Bruno De Freitas at 22:57 for his third goal of the year and a 1-0 Lincoln Memorial lead.
Less than a minute later, De La Fuente would finally cash in as he took a midfield pass from Linus Salomonsen at the top of the box and slipped the ball under LMU keeper Alan Johnson for his first goal of the season at 23:33.
De Freitas came up with a stop on a shot from the top of the box by Harry Cooke in the 33rd minute, and the pace of play slowed significantly as the teams went to the half tied 1-1.
Neither team had any much in the way of offense at the start of the second half, with one shot apiece for the first 15 minutes. Tusculum had the best opportunity in that span, as a cross was sent just wide by Morales in the 58th minute.
Morales would also have a chance in the 63rd minute but a bicycle kick was also wide of the goal. Lincoln Memorial had the first shot on goal of the second half for either team in the 65th minute, but a blast from the top of the box from Hunter Stroble was collected easily by De Freitas.
Two minutes later, a cross from Cooke was headed in by a cutting Hatley for his first goal of the season and a 2-1 Lincoln Memorial lead at 66:53.
Tusculum would find the equalizer nearly nine minutes later as Lucas Romeiro carried down the left side and crossed to Baltide in front, who slid a shot past Johnson for his first of the year which knotted the contest at 2-2 at 75:45.
Lincoln Memorial regained the lead at 3-2 at 84:35 as a free kick from the far left side by Majer curled into the top corner for his second of the day and fourth of the season. Neither team would have a close chance in the final five minutes.
De Freitas finished the match with three saves for the Pioneers while Johnson had two stops for the Railsplitters, who had a 7-4 edge in shots on goal in the contest. Each team took six corner kicks and Tusculum was called for 14 fouls to 10 by Lincoln Memorial, with each team receiving three cautions.
The Pioneers will host Shaw in a non-conference match on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Pioneer Field. The Bears are 3-4 overall, including a 3-2 win over Lincoln Memorial in their most-recent match on Sept. 21. Saturday's contest will be the sixth in a stretch of 11 consecutive road matches for the Bears, who will not play at home again until Oct. 26.
