WINTER PARK, Fla. --- Rollins College defeated Tusculum University 3-0 in non-conference women's soccer action Friday night at Barker Family Stadium.
The Tars (1-0-2) outshot the Pioneers (1-1-1) by a 16-7 margin and received a goal and an assist from Sarah Buckley in the victory. Shalisa Crowell and Kathryn O'Brien also scored for Rollins, which led 2-0 at halftime before adding an insurance goal midway through the second half.
After Rollins had a pair of shots off target to open the game, Tusculum had the first shot on goal of the evening as a shot from Sonja Ballmert was saved by Tars keeper Kelly Rowswell in the 17th minute. Rowswell came up with another save on a header by the Pioneers' Ellie Tomassoni in the 27th minute.
Rollins' first shot on goal gave the Tars a 1-0 lead at 33:09, as Buckley scored less than two minutes after checking in as a substitute off an assist by Meghan Mosley. Buckley nearly scored again in the 40th minute, but her shot rang off the crossbar behind Tusculum keeper Hannah Graham.
Just under a minute later, Rollins extended its lead to 2-0 as Crowell collected a goal at 40:10 with Buckley credited with the assist. The Tars carried the 2-0 lead into halftime as they outshot the Pioneers 9-3 in the opening 45 minutes.
The Tars had the first five shot attempts of the second half, including an attempt by Mosley that was saved by Pioneer keeper Danielle Breen, who came on for Graham at halftime. O'Brien scored at 67:37 to push the Tars ahead 3-0, and Rowswell finished off the clean sheet by making saves on Ballmert with 20 minutes left, Kate Guildford with 11:49 to go and Sarah Combs with 6:27 remaining.
Rollins had a 4-3 edge in corner kicks over Tusculum and had a 12-7 lead in fouls. The Tars were also flagged twice for offsides in the match.
Rowswell finished with five saves to earn the victory for Rollins, while Graham (two saves) and Breen (one save) combined for three stops for the Pioneers.
Tusculum will play its fourth straight game against a Florida opponent to open the season when the Pioneers visit Embry-Riddle on Sunday morning at 11 a.m.
