GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University women's soccer team will look for its fifth win in seven matches on Friday when the Pioneers visit Mars Hill for their only match of the week.
The Pioneers (7-8-0, 3-5-0 SAC) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 2-1 Senior Day victory over Coker on Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Field. Wins are crucial for the Pioneers, who are currently one point behind Newberry for the eighth and final spot in the SAC Championship tournament with just two games remaining in the regular season.
Tusculum has been outscored 14-5 in its eight conference matches, but has made the most of its scoring with 1-0 wins over Anderson and Wingate in addition to the 2-1 victory against Coker. All three league wins were at home, where the Pioneers are 4-1-0 this season.
RECAPPING THE WEEK
Coker brought a seven-match losing streak to Pioneer Field, but battled Tusculum for 90 minutes despite being outshot 26-6. Kenzie Ellenburg gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead midway through the first half as she headed home a free kick by Kaitlyn Watson, but it took a penalty-kick goal from Yvette Raaijen -- her third of the year without a miss -- in the 65th minute to secure the 2-1 win.
Tusculum put 17 of its 26 shots on target, but Coker keeper Sarah Swaim finished with 13 saves and defender Kayla Lazo cleared would-be goals by Kate Guildford and Ellenburg off the line. Nine of the 10 field starters for Tusculum had at least one shot attempt in the match, while Pioneer keeper Danielle Breen made just one save and did not allow a goal during the course of play. Coker's only tally came on a penalty kick in the 35th minute.
LOOKING AHEAD
Mars Hill (1-12-1 overall, 1-7-0 SAC) also brings a losing streak of seven games into its contest with the Pioneers. The Lions' lone with of the season came on Sept. 29 against Coker by a score of 4-1, while their tie was against Alabama Huntsville on Sept. 8 by a 2-2 score. Last week, Mars Hill lost 3-0 at Queens in its only match of the week.
The undisputed offensive leader for the Lions is Sanne Martinsen, who has accounted for six of the team's 11 goals in their 14 games and four of their six goals in SAC action. The sophomore scored seven of the Lions' 12 goals last year, including the tying goal in the 87th minute of what became a 2-1 double-overtime win at Tusculum.
Clare Witt and Victoria Forren have each seen significant time in goal for the Lions, with Witt compiling a 2.82 goals against average and Forren a 1.79 goals against average to go along with a .788 save percentage.
The Lions' win over the Pioneers last season snapped a seven-game winning streak by Tusculum over Mars Hill. The Lions' last home win over the Pioneers was in 2010, also by a 2-1 score in overtime. Tusculum leads the all-time series by a 23-6 margin.
LEADER BOARD
Raaijen is now tied for the team lead in goals with Tina Haig with three apiece, and has taken over the lead in points with eight. Ellenburg became the fifth Pioneer with more than one goal this season, and Watson's assist against Coker was her team-best third of the year. Raaijen is also second in the SAC in penalty kick goals, trailing the six made by Abigael McGarel of Lenoir-Rhyne.
Breen is third in the SAC in save percentage with an .824 mark and ranks ninth in the league with a 1.38 goals against average in her seven starts.
Links to live stats and video for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com.
