GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- J-P Vital scored a hat trick, Pedro Concheso had three assists and Tusculum University defeated Emory & Henry College 7-0 in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer Wednesday night at Pioneer Field.
Vital scored in the 10th, 18th and 60th minutes as part of a 23-shot barrage by the Pioneers (6-3-3, 2-3-3 SAC), who also received goals from Carlos Perez, Artur Marques, Kasper Hansen and Gaaj Laurin in the victory over the Wasps (0-11-0, 0-7-0 SAC).
Vital is the first Pioneer to score a hat trick since Luis De La Fuente did so on Oct. 12 of last season at Emory & Henry. Vital had six shots on goal in the match for the Pioneers, who had a 23-8 advantage in shot attempts and a 14-2 edge in shots on goal over the Wasps.
Tusculum needed just 10 minutes to take a 1-0 lead as a cross from Concheso connected with Vital, who shot through keeper Josiah Wilson for his second of the season at 9:59. Six minutes later, Perez was taken down in the box by Wilson and converted the penalty for his second goal of the year at 16:11.
Vital would extend Tusculum's lead to 3-0 at 17:38 on a second effort, after his first shot was blocked off the line by Emory & Henry defender Grayson Cunningham but came back to him for a second try that found the net.
In the second half, Tusculum would double its lead in a span of 9 1/2 minutes. At 59:22, a quick pass from Michele Di Miele to Concheso went on to Vital, who beat the defense and finished off the hat trick for a 4-0 lead. Two minutes later, a cross from Concheso went to Marques, who chipped a shot past Wilson for his fourth of the year at 61:36.
Hansen would stretch the lead to 6-0 at 68:52 as another scoring play was started by Di Miele, whose past to Ndubueze Henry was sent along to Hansen and ended with his first of the season. Laurin would close the scoring at 83:38 as Marques sprung him behind the defense, and he beat Wilson to the ball at the top of the box and had the open net.
Sondre Liahagen Kolnes started in goal for the Pioneers and made two saves to earn his second shutout in as many starts this season. Wilson finished with six saves for the Wasps, who committed 18 fouls to 17 for the Pioneers.
Tusculum will travel to Newberry for a key SAC match on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Wolves (2-5-2, 1-4-2 SAC) are winless in five matches and will host Shorter in a non-conference match on Thursday at 6 p.m. ahead of Saturday's meeting with the Pioneers.
