GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Helen Summerell scored 3:11 into overtime as eighth-ranked Catawba College remained unbeaten with a 2-1 victory over Tusculum University Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action at Pioneer Field.
Katie Beck assisted on the winning goal after scoring the tying goal in the 66th minute for the Indians (14-0-2, 9-0-1 SAC), who clinched the top seed in the upcoming SAC Championship tournament and at least a share of the conference regular-season title with the win.
Brianna Garcia scored in the 31st minute for the upset-minded Pioneers (3-14-0, 2-8-0 SAC), who were outshot 22-5 by the Indians but on Senior Day became just the third team this season to take Catawba into overtime, joining Columbus State on Sept. 9 and Queens on Oct. 20.
Tusculum freshman goalkeeper Brooklynn Hudgins finished with a season-high 11 saves for the Pioneers, including six in the second half. Catawba had a 15-0 advantage in corner kicks in the match, one of which led to the tying goal by Beck in the second half.
Catawba earned its first corner kick just 39 seconds into the match, and put its first shot on goal in the second minute as Hudgins made a stop on Sharon Mayes. Tusculum's first shot was in the third minute, as an attempt by Kenzie Ellenburg from 20 yards was stopped by Catawba keeper Jamie Kazenmayer, who was making her second straight start in goal for the Indians.
Hudgins made a save on a shot from Ayden Vaughan in the tenth minute and on a header by Beck off a corner in the 12th minute. Garcia just missed on a header off a free kick from Yvette Raaijen in the 23rd minute, while Hudgins was equal on a chip try from Catawba's Jovana Sanchez in the 25th minute and on a shot to her right by Vaughan in the 29th minute.
Tusculum grabbed a 1-0 lead at 30:05 on a defensive gaffe by Catawba. The Indians had possession in their end, and a defender made a short pass to who she thought was a teammate but was a lurking Garcia, and she dribbled in alone from 20 yards and beat Kazenmayer to the far post for her fourth goal of the season. The goal was just the fifth conceded by the Indians in 16 matches this season, and only the second in 10 league contests.
Following the Garcia goal, Catawba had just two shot attempts the remainder of the half and were off target on both, leaving Tusculum holding a 1-0 lead at intermission.
In the second half, Tusculum had the first shot attempt as a try from 20 yards by Chayse Stonebraker was handled by Kazenmayer. Catawba would put the next three shots on goal, including two from leading scorer Hannah Dunn that were stopped in the 54th and 55th minutes, the latter smothered by Hudgins inside the 6.
Stonebraker had another shot from 25 yards in the 63rd minute that was saved by Kazenmayer, then the Indians earned three corner kicks in a span of two minutes. On the third, the service from Kasey Hahn went to the head of Beck who delivered her seventh goal of the season and a 1-1 deadlock at 65:23.
After Catawba scored the tying goal, the Indians kept up the pressure, forcing Hudgins to make saves on Mayes in the 71st minute, Summerell on a header in the 79th minute and Beck on a free kick from 35 yards in the 84th minute. Tusculum was set up for a free kick in the final minute, and a loose ball nearly found its way to the goal but was played away by Beck.
In the overtime period, Catawba struck quickly as Beck played a long ball from her end toward the Tusculum goal. Hudgins made a late decision to come off her line, and Summerell beat her to the spot and put the ball past Hudgins for her fourth of the year at 93:11.
Catawba finished the match with a 10-7 edge in fouls. Kazenmayer made three saves in goal for the Indians.
Tusculum will conclude its 2021 season on Wednesday, Nov. 3 at Pioneer Field against Queens, beginning at 5 p.m. The Royals, ranked third in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region, improved to 12-3-1 with a 2-0 win at Coker on Saturday. Queens is 8-1-1 in the SAC and sits in second place, three points behind Catawba.
