GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Alyssa Edwards scored the only goal of the match with 4:47 left in the second half to give Queens University of Charlotte a 1-0 victory over Tusculum University in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action Wednesday at Pioneer Field.
The Royals (13-3-1, 9-1-1 SAC), ranked third in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region, clinched the second seed in the upcoming SAC Championship tournament by outshooting the Pioneers (3-15-0, 2-9-0 SAC) by a 21-5 margin. Tusculum keeper Brooklyn Hudgins finished with nine saves, including six in the second half when the Royals outshot the Pioneers 15-3.
Neither team had a shot attempt until the eighth minute, when Hudgins made a stop on a shot from the top of the box by Queens' Mia Manuel. Tusculum's first shot was in the 21st minute, on a shot from the left side by Kenzie Ellenburg that was stopped by Queens keeper Erica Turner.
Queens nearly went up 1-0 in the 29th minute as a shot from Sophia Muetterties hit the upper right corner of the frame and stayed out. Ellenburg had another chance in the 32nd minute with Turner off her line, but her shot from distance was well off target.
Hudgins finished the half with a save on Karen Juarez in the 39th minute on a dive to her right, then on a low liner from 25 yards out by Edwards in the 44th minute. Queens had the last shot of the half with 44 seconds to play, but Emma Rose Stockton's chip attempt went over the crossbar.
In the second half, Queens buzzed the Tusculum goal as a corner kick set up a shot from the left wing by Sarah Kelley that was stopped by Hudgins. Two minutes later, Hudgins made back-to-back stops on a shot by Maddy Leone in the 51st minute and the rebound by Juarez.
Tusculum's first shot of the second half came in the 55th minute as Yvette Raaijen unloaded a free kick from 40 yards, but Turner was able to cradle the attempt. Queens continued to put shots toward the Tusculum goal, but sent several off target until the 85th minute, when Hudgins stopped a try from Manuel.
The final shot for the Pioneers came with just over five minutes to play, as Brianna Garcia was stopped by Turner. Back at the other end, Queens' Lauren Kayll put a ball down the middle for Edwards, who outran the defense and got around Hudgins to score her fourth goal of the season into the open net with 4:47 left.
Queens remained on the offensive after Edwards' goal, taking the final four shots of the match. Hudgins was forced to make saves on Manuel with 1:18 to go and on Leone with 24 seconds to play, but the Pioneers could not get back into the Royals' end of the field before time ran out on the Pioneers' eighth one-goal loss of the season.
Turner had three saves for the Royals, who finished with a 5-3 edge in corner kicks and an 11-10 lead in fouls. Tusculum was flagged twice for offsides in the match.
Hudgins, who started the final three matches of the season for the Pioneers, finished fourth in the SAC in save percentage in conference-only matches, making 37 saves on 43 shots on goal for a .860 save percentage.
