GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Brianna Garcia scored twice in a span of just under two minutes early in the second half as Tusculum University rallied for a 3-2 victory over the University of West Alabama in non-conference women's soccer action Friday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
Taylor Youmans scored in the second minute off a Garcia assist and returned the favor in the 53rd minute as the Pioneers (3-0-0) overcame a 2-1 halftime deficit to the Tigers (1-2-0) to open the season with three straight wins for the first time since 2004.
Garcia has scored a goal in each of the Pioneers' first three matches and ranks second in the SAC in both goals (four) and points (10). Youmans leads the SAC with four assists in three matches and is third in the conference in points with eight (two goals, four assists).
The Pioneers wasted little time in taking a 1-0 lead just 1:58 into the match as Garcia delivered a long service from the left side, and Youmans beat West Alabama keeper Maria Mon to the near post.
However, the Tigers came back and leveled the score at 1-1 at 5:53 as Mikayla Anderson stole the ball from Pioneer keeper Grayson Patterson inside the 6 and deposited her first goal of the season.
Both teams had scoring chances over the next 25 minutes but no serious opportunities until the Tigers took the lead at 32:04. A well-slotted pass from Dana Cruz connected with Sierra O'Grady inside 10 yards, and she slid the ball past Patterson for her first goal of the season for West Alabama.
The one-goal lead would stand into the second half for the Tigers, but the Pioneers mounted heavy pressure in the first five minutes of the half. Mon punched a blast from Bailey Bylotas over the crossbar just 90 seconds into the half, then stopped a long attempt from the right side by Marja Enste in the 48th minute.
A corner kick by Enste in the 51st minute was headed by Rosy Wodhams and stopped by Mon, but the rebound came straight to Garcia who netted the equalizer at 50:34. Garcia would strike again at 52:31 as a pass from Sydney Grant to Youmans led to a feed to the left wing to a driving Garcia, who chipped a shot over Mon for a 3-2 Tusculum lead.
Patterson helped preserve the Pioneer lead by making saves on Paige Laidler in the 54th minute and Selis Demirci in the 64th minute. Tusculum had a look for an insurance goal in the 67th minute, but Mon kicked away an attempt from the right side by Grant. West Alabama would have just two shot attempts in the final 20 minutes, both high and wide from distance.
Tusculum finished the match with a 13-9 shot advantage over West Alabama and a 3-2 edge in corner kicks. The Pioneers were whistled for 14 fouls to 10 by the Tigers.
Patterson finished the match with two saves for the Pioneers, while Mon had six saves for the Tigers, all coming in the second half.
Tusculum will seek its first 4-0-0 start since 2001 when the Pioneers host Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. in their South Atlantic Conference opener. The Bears, who advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals last season, have opened the season with a tie and a loss heading into their league opener on Wednesday at Lincoln Memorial.
