GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Lenoir-Rhyne University defeated Tusculum University 3-1 in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
The Bears (6-7-0, 5-5-0 SAC) fell behind 1-0 in the seventh minute to the Pioneers (1-9-2, 1-6-2 SAC) but gained the lead by the 30th minute, then added an insurance goal on a penalty kick midway through the second half.
Tusculum went up 1-0 at 6:18 off a free kick, as a pass from Asbjorn Saevik was redirected by Bertram Josefson to Federico Belintende, who deposited his first goal of the season.
Lenoir-Rhyne tied the match exactly one minute later as a free kick from Harri Rowe was headed in by a cutting Raul Canas for his fourth goal of the year.
The Bears took a 2-1 lead at 28:13 as a long through pass from Fran Tita was collected by Oskar Dahlberg, who fired past Tusculum keeper Noe Delmotte for his third of the season.
Tusculum nearly leveled the game with just under six minutes left in the half, but a shot from Zaki Goes was cleared off the line by Lenoir-Rhyne's Jonas Moos.
Three minutes into the second half, the Pioneers had a chance off a rush but Gui Busato just missed the far post. Tusculum almost scored the equalizer in the 67th minute with Bears keeper Tomas Fontes helpless on the ground, but Moos had his second line clear of the day on a shot from Felix Triftshauser.
Just a minute later, Tita was taken down in the box and Moos stepped up for the penalty. His shot was low and to the right of Delmotte, who guessed correctly but could only get a hand on the ball as it crossed the line for Moos' second goal of the season at 67:45.
Tusculum had five of its 11 shots after Moos' goal, but none were on target as Fontes finished the match with two saves. Delmotte had two saves for the Pioneers.
Lenoir-Rhyne had a 12-11 shot advantage in the match, while Tusculum was whistled for 18 fouls to eight for the Bears. The Pioneers earned six corner kicks while the Bears had five corners.
Tusculum goes on the road for a makeup match at Mars Hill on Monday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. The Lions (8-2-3, 5-2-2 SAC), ranked 25th in Division II, are unbeaten in their last six matches. Mars Hill is led by forward Peter Plougmand who has a Division II-high 20 goals this season, including eight during an active four-game goal streak.
