HICKORY, N.C. --- Ria Acton scored on a pair of penalty kicks in the second half to give Lenoir-Rhyne University a 2-1 win over Tusculum University in non-conference women's soccer action Sunday afternoon.
Acton scored in the 65th and 75th minutes for the Bears (4-0-1), who outshot the Pioneers (1-2-1) by a 15-10 margin including 11-4 in the second half. Tusculum's lone goal came just over 90 seconds into the first half from Tina Haig, but Bears keeper Grayson Cameron kept the Pioneers off the scoreboard for the rest of the afternoon.
The Pioneers wasted little time in taking a 1-0 lead, as a free kick was played by Cristina Iranzo to Haig, who collected her second goal of the season at 1:34.
Lenoir-Rhyne's first shot attempt came less than a minute after Haig's goal, but Stephanie Figueiredo was off target. The Bears' only shot on goal in the first half came from distance by Figueiredo in the final minute, but was stopped by Tusculum keeper Cece Mortensen.
The Bears had pressure early in the second half, culminating on a header from Acton that missed the far post in the 53rd minute. Acton would then deliver the equalizer at 64:20 as a foul in the box led to a penalty kick which she converted for her fourth goal of the season.
Haig nearly restored Tusculum's lead with just over 20 minutes to go off a free kick by Kenzie Ellenburg, but Cameron came off her line to block the shot. A minute later, the Bears' Allie Zueger went high on Mortensen but her shot ricocheted square off the crossbar.
With 15:21 remaining, Zueger was taken down in the box and another penalty kick was awarded. Acton was again tapped to take the kick and went high on Mortensen to give the Bears a 2-1 lead.
Haig and Chelsea Sheerin had shots on target following Acton's second goal, but both attempts were collected by Cameron. Neither team had a shot attempt in the final seven minutes.
Lenoir-Rhyne had seven corner kicks to four for Tusculum, while the Pioneers were called for 12 fouls and the Bears were whistled for eight.
Mortensen was credited with four saves for the Pioneers, while Cameron finished the match with six stops for the Bears.
Tusculum will return to South Atlantic Conference competition on Thursday, March 18 at Mars Hill, with kickoff at 5 p.m.
