GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Othmane Chagour scored the tying goal with 1:54 left as Tusculum University rallied for a 1-1 draw with Anderson University Wednesday night in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer from Pioneer Field.
The Pioneers (0-6-3, 0-4-2 SAC) seemed fated to their fourth 1-0 conference loss of the season despite a lopsided shot advantage over the Trojans (2-6-2, 1-4-2 SAC), but a loose ball in the box went off several players before Chagour was able to play it through an Anderson defender on the line for the equalizer with just under two minutes on the clock.
Anderson would score on its only shot on goal of the match in the 24th minute, and nearly preserved the lead for the duration despite being outshot 17-3 by Tusculum on the evening. The Pioneers also had a 6-0 edge in corner kicks and forced Trojan keeper Amos Uber to make eight saves in the game.
Tusculum controlled the play from the outset, forcing Uber to make saves on Luis De La Fuente in the 10th minute and Chagour on a free kick just outside the box in the 14th minute. Uber would make a diving stop on a strike from 20 yards by Lucas Romeiro in the 20th minute for his third and final save of the half.
The Trojans would go up 1-0 at 23:42 as a pass through the defense from Andres Osorio went to Lucas Goldberg, who slipped a shot past Tusculum keeper Bruno De Freitas for his second goal of the season.
Anderson's defense would block shot attempts by the Pioneers' Asbjorn Saevik in the 32nd minute and Damien Baltide in the 33rd minute, while De La Fuente was wide on a header attempt from the penalty spot in the 35th minute.
In the second half, the Pioneers had a golden opportunity to tie the score just over a minute in as a shot from 25 yards by Gui Busato was bobbled by Uber, allowing De La Fuente to swoop in and take a whack at the ball which caromed off the fallen keeper and out of danger.
Tusculum misfired on several close chances later in the half, including an attempt from around 10 yards by Baltide that soared over the crossbar. Anderson would take two shot attempts midway through the half, neither on target although a sharp-angle try from Ben Lemen just missed the far post.
The Pioneers would miss again on a cross to Cristobal Morales in tight in the 73rd minute, while Uber would collect a volley attempt from Romeiro from 25 yards with 13 1/2 minutes remaining. Tusculum would tack on two more shots on goal inside the final 6 1/2 minutes, with Ignacio Alconchel bouncing a shot to Uber and Xavi Sandoica delivering a roller from the far right side with just under four minutes on the clock.
After a corner kick by Morales with just under 2 1/2 minutes to go, Tusculum regained possession and Morales served a pass to the top of the box, which was headed along by Michele Di Miele into a mass of players from both teams. Chagour's first attempt was smothered by the Anderson defense, but the ball came back to his feet and he put a shot past Uber and through the legs of the Trojans' Joao Martinho on the goal line to tie the match.
Tusculum was called for 15 fouls in the match to 13 by Anderson, and the Pioneers were shown three cautions while the Trojans drew a pair of yellows. Tusculum was also flagged three times for offsides to two by Anderson.
The Pioneers will journey to Limestone on Saturday to face the Saints, who fell 1-0 to Wingate on Wednesday night to drop to 4-2-3 overall and third place in the conference at 4-1-1. Limestone, ranked fifth in the Southeast Region by the United Soccer Coaches, had won four in a row prior to Wednesday's setback against Wingate.
