GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University opened its South Atlantic Conference women's soccer schedule with a 4-0 victory over Mars Hill University Thursday afternoon at Pioneer Field.

The Pioneers (1-1-0, 1-0-0 SAC) outshot the Lions (0-1-0, 0-1-0 SAC) by a 20-2 margin, including 10-0 in the second half, and scored three goals in the final 20 minutes after carrying a 1-0 lead from the first nine minutes of play. Tina Haig had a goal and an assist for Tusculum, with goals from Cristina Iranzo, Bailey Bylotas and Brooke Radcliffe in a 17-minute span late in the second half.

Haig opened the scoring for the Pioneers at 8:56 of the first half as she collected a cross from Brianna Garcia and headed a shot past Mars Hill keeper Sarah Paiva for a 1-0 Tusculum lead. Mars Hill's only two shots of the match came in the four-minute span following Haig's goal, as Tusculum goalkeeper Cece Mortensen came up with an excellent lunging save on the Lions' Sanne Martinsen in the 11th minute and stopping Bailey Whitehead-Price in the 14th minute.

Tusculum continued to apply pressure throughout the half, nearly adding a second goal on attempts from Chelsea Sheerin in the 19th minute and Darby Johnson in the final minute of the half. The Pioneers held a 1-0 halftime lead with a 10-2 advantage in shots over the Lions.

The Pioneers continued to apply the pressure in the second half, and were rewarded at 70:17 as a corner kick from Kaitlyn Watson went through the box and to the feet of freshman Cristina Iranzo, who had an open net for her first career goal and a 2-0 lead. Just over two minutes later, Bailey Bylotas collected her first career goal as a pass from Garcia traveled along the goal line to the far post, where Bylotas stood unmarked for a 3-0 advantage in the 73rd minute. Brooke Radcliffe was rewarded after a couple of close calls with the final goal of the day with 2:27 left after a cross from Haig.

Mortensen's two first-half saves were enough for her third career shutout in eight starts for the Pioneers in her career. Paiva finished the match with seven saves for the Lions, making three saves in the second half after four in the opening 45 minutes. Tusculum had a 6-4 edge in corner kicks, and the Pioneers were called for 11 fouls to seven by the Lions.

Tusculum is scheduled to venture on the road for their next match, on Thursday, March 4 at Lincoln Memorial beginning at 12:30 p.m.