GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University women's soccer team will conclude its 2021 season on Wednesday, Nov. 3 as the Pioneers host Queens University of Charlotte at 5 p.m. at Pioneer Field.
Tusculum (3-14-0, 2-8-0 SAC) will be playing its third consecutive regionally-ranked opponent, as the Royals (12-3-1, 8-1-1 SAC) were third in the initial NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings.
Last week, Tusculum faced the top two teams in the region at Pioneer Field, dropping a 5-0 decision to top-ranked Columbus State on Wednesday and falling 2-1 in overtime to second-ranked Catawba on Saturday. Columbus State is ranked ninth in the United Soccer Coaches Division II national poll, with Catawba ranked eighth.
RECAPPING THE WEEK
Columbus State defeated Tusculum 5-0 in a non-conference match Wednesday afternoon at Pioneer Field. The Cougars (15-1-1) outshot the Pioneers by a 27-5 margin and had five different goal scorers in the match.
Columbus State had 14 shots on goal, while Tusculum's lone shot on target came on a free kick from Yvette Raaijen with just over a minute left in regulation. Tusculum starting keeper Brooklynn Hudgins made four saves in the opening half, with Emma Harriman making five stops in the second half.
On Saturday, Helen Summerell scored 3:11 into overtime as Catawba College remained unbeaten with a 2-1 victory over Tusculum on Senior Day at Pioneer Field.
Brianna Garcia scored in the 31st minute for the upset-minded Pioneers, who were outshot 22-5 by the Indians but became just the third team this season to take Catawba into overtime, joining Columbus State on Sept. 9 and Queens on Oct. 20. Hudgins finished with a season-high 11 saves for the Pioneers, including six in the second half.
PROFILING THE PIONEERS
Tusculum will finish the season at home against Queens, where the Pioneers have a 2-7 record this season. Tusculum has been outssccored 22-14 in its nine home matches, with five of its seven losses by one goal and two in overtime.
Garcia took over the team lead in scoring with 11 points after scoring her fourth of the season against Catawba. She joins senior forward Kenzie Ellenburg and graduate midfielder Yvette Raaijen with four goals apiece this season, and has the team lead in assists with three.
Six players have started all 17 games for the Pioneers: Garcia, Raaijen, junior midfielder Bailey Bylotas, freshman defender Myah Giordullo, senior midfielder Kaitlyn Watson, and freshman defender Kate Benne. Watson has never missed a start in her Pioneer career, with her 62nd scheduled for Wednesday.
Hudgins, who has started the last three matches, leads the Pioneers in goals against average (2.32) and save percentage (.805). Hudgins has 33 saves in 310 minutes of playing time, and her save percentage would rank seventh in the SAC if she met the qualifying minimum for minutes played.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Royals clinched second place in the SAC standings with a 2-0 win at Coker on Saturday. Queens has won three straight and is undefeated in its last six matches (5-0-1), during which it has outscored its foes by a 10-1 margin.
Junior midfielder Mia Manuel leads the Royals with six goals in 13 matches this season. Manuel, who has scored on six of her 10 shots on goal, has scored five times in conference play for the Royals. Freshman forward Maddy Leone scored twice against Coker to give her three goals for the season, while sophomore midfielder Sophia Muetterties has four goals and an assist.
Junior Erica Turner has started every match for Queens and ranks second in the conference in goals against average (0.51) and save percentage (0.51), while her 10 solo shutouts are tops in the conference.
Tusculum leads the all-time series over Queens by a 6-5-1 record. The Pioneers' last win over the Royals was a 2-1 home victory in 2018.
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS
Live stats and video are available for all home Tusculum University women's soccer matches. Links to stats and video for home and away matches are available at tusculumpioneers.com.
