GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Two second-half goals following a weather delay sparked Tusculum University to a 2-0 win over Mars Hill University in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
An own goal in the 59th minute gave the Pioneers (1-5-0, 1-1-0 SAC) the lead, and Bailey Bylotas added an insurance goal nearly 10 minutes later. Emma Harriman recorded her first career shutout for Tusculum by making five saves.
The Pioneers outshot the Lions (1-4-1, 0-2-0 SAC) by a 16-12 margin in the victory, but Mars Hill keeper Camryn Miller had eight saves in the match.
Tusculum had the first chance in the opening minute as Kaitlyn Watson rifled a shot high from 25 yards. Mars Hill's first shot attempt was in the third minute, but a wing shot from Sanne Martinsen missed the far post from 25 yards out.
Martinsen had the first shot on goal of the afternoon in the 18th minute, as she rolled an attempt on Harriman from 20 yards away. Tusculum kept up the pressure in the 21st minute as a long free kick came to Brianna Garcia, who headed over the crossbar.
Both teams took turns with long-range shots off target, although Miller had to respond to a redirected cross off Kenzie Ellenburg in the 32nd minute. Harriman made her best save in the 38th minute, as Martinsen had a look toward the far post but Harriman stuck her hand out to redirect the shot wide.
Early in the second half, the teams continued to take low-percentage shots at goal as the deadlock moved into the 52nd minute. With 38:14 left in the match, a lightning delay was called and the teams were sent to the locker room.
After a 40-minute pause, the Pioneers earned a corner kick that was played back to Watson, whose drive from 25 yards was punched wide by Miller. On the next corner, Watson served the ball perfectly to the box, where Mars Hill's Martinsen attempted to head it away but instead put it in her net for an own goal and a 1-0 Tusculum lead at 58:45.
Miller made two more saves on attempts from Julianne Fox in the 63rd and 65th minutes, while Harriman stopped Martinsen for the third time in the 68th minute by deflecting a shot wide of the post.
Tusculum stretched its lead to 2-0 at 68:33 as Garcia played a cross that went off the heel of Joey Garrett directly to Bylotas, who deposited her first goal of the season. From there, the Tusculum defense would allow just three shot attempts, none of which went on goal. The best chance for Mars Hill was in the 86th minute as an arching shot from Alanna Sheppard bounced off the top of the crossbar and over the goal.
Tusculum was whistled for 12 fouls in the match to 10 for Mars Hill, and neither team was issued a card. Tusculum had a slim 5-4 edge in corner kicks over Mars Hill.
The Pioneers were scheduled to play Alabama Huntsville on Wednesday at Pioneer Field, but the Chargers were forced to cancel due to the rescheduling of a pair of Gulf South Conference matches. Tusculum will now next play on Saturday, Sept. 25 at Coker, beginning at noon.
