GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Two goals in the first five minutes of the second half were the difference as Tusculum University defeated 16th-ranked Coker University 2-0 in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer action Saturday at Pioneer Field.
Artur Marques and Pedro Concheso scored for the Pioneers (5-1-0, 1-1-0 SAC), who have outscored their opponents 10-1 in the second half in their first six matches. Nicolas Leite earned his fourth shutout of the season for the Pioneers by making three saves against Coker (2-1-3, 0-1-1 SAC), whose 19-match regular-season unbeaten streak (8-0-11) came to an end with the loss.
The victory was the first over a ranked opponent for the Pioneers since a 3-2 overtime win over sixth-ranked Pfeiffer on Sept. 28, 2016. Tusculum, which was ninth in the Southeast Region this week, had been 0-8-2 in its last 10 matches against ranked teams, with six of the losses by one goal.
Tusculum has four wins by two goals or more this season and has outscored its opponents by a 12-2 margin through six matches. On the defensive side of the ball, the Pioneers have four shutouts through six games for the first time since 2008.
Coker had the first chance in the fourth minute as Celestin Blondel moved in down the left side, but his shot was knocked away by Leite. In the seventh minute, a volley attempt from Connor Duggan was saved by Leite.
Tusculum's first shot on goal came in the 23rd minute, as Gui Busato cut down the left side, moved inside and took a shot to the near post that was stopped by Coker keeper Jasper Rump. Busato would test Rump again in the 23rd minute, but the shot toward the far post was knocked away.
Neither team would have a shot on goal for the remainder of the half, with Tusculum holding a slim 4-3 edge in shot attempts in the scoreless opening half.
The Pioneers would need just 58 seconds of the second half to take the lead as a cross from Asbjorn Saevik was redirected by Coker defender Myles Jackson directly to Marques, who steered a shot past Rump to the far post for his third goal of the season at 45:58.
Four minutes later, Concheso stole a soft pass on the back line and went in alone from 30 yards, beating an oncoming Rump from 15 yards for his third goal of the year at 49:44 for a 2-0 Tusculum lead.
The Pioneers made a bid for 3-0 at the 54th minute, but Mo Bouta's shot from long range was stopped on a short hop by Rump. Coker would have its best chance of the match off a corner kick in the 58th minute, but a header from Lukas Berntsson was collected by Leite in a crowd.
Tusculum gained the advantage in the 66th minute when a second card against a Coker player left the Cobras a man down for the duration of the match. From there, Coker would not have another shot attempt the rest of the day as Tusculum protected the two-goal advantage.
The Pioneers finished the match with an 11-10 shot edge over the Cobras, while Coker had a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks. Tusculum was whistled for 22 fouls and shown five cards, and Coker was called for 14 fouls and shown three cards.
Rump finished the match with five saves for the Cobras, whose last regular-season loss was a 2-1 defeat at North Greenville on Aug. 31, 2022. Coker had not lost a regular-season conference game since a 2-1 overtime setback to Anderson on Nov. 3, 2021.
Tusculum will host Mars Hill on Wednesday, Sept. 20 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Pioneer Field. The Lions fell 3-1 to Saint Leo in a non-conference match on Saturday and are 2-2-2 overall with an 0-0-1 conference mark.
