HARROGATE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University earned a 2-1 victory over Lincoln Memorial University in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action Wednesday afternoon at the LMU Soccer Field.
The Pioneers (5-3-1, 1-3-1 SAC) conceded a goal in the opening minute to the Railsplitters (1-8-0, 0-5-0 SAC) but collected tallies from Sydney Grant and Taylor Youmans midway through the opening half to take the lead for good. Tusculum keeper Grayson Patterson matched her season high with eight saves for the Pioneers, who were outshot 21-10 by the Railsplitters.
Lincoln Memorial took the lead 20 seconds after the opening kickoff as Ryan Branson collected a pass down the left side and took a shot from a sharp angle that sneaked inside the top right corner over Patterson for her first goal of the season.
Tusculum nearly answered in the 10th minute as a cross in the box came to Brianna Garcia, but LMU keeper Bente Latenstein was able to deflect the ball off the line. The Pioneers would get a free kick moments later just outside the top of the box, but the attempt was chipped high by Marja Enste.
The Pioneers would level the score at 1-1 at 21:28 as a clear attempt by the Railsplitters was stopped by Grant about 25 yards out on the far right, and her booming shot carried over Latenstein and into the top corner for her second goal of the season.
Just over six minutes later, Garcia stole the ball on defense and found Youmans in stride behind the LMU back line. Youmans deked Latenstein at the 6 and was able to get a foot on the ball while being fouled from behind, and the ball crossed the line at 27:45 for Youmans' fourth goal of the season.
Each team would have a shot attempt in the final five minutes of the half, as Enste put a free kick off the goal post from 25 yards away while Patterson made a routine save on a bouncing shot from the Railsplitters' Madison Amstutz.
In the second half, the Railsplitters had three scoring chances in the first five minutes, but came away empty. A header off a corner kick by Megan Snider was headed off the line by the Pioneers' Garcia in the 47th minute, and Patterson came up with saves on Branson to her left in the 50th minute and Anne Van de Munt from distance about 30 seconds later.
Patterson would come through with another save in the 60th minute as she leaped to punch a long shot by Lincoln Memorial's Alicia Bevins over the crossbar. Patterson added a save on Corrine Denton in the 76th minute, while Latenstein kept the margin at one as she reached up to pull in a shot from inside 15 yards by Grant with four minutes to go. Lincoln Memorial's last chance came on a free kick from midfield with 30 seconds left, but the ball carried over the end line and Tusculum ran down the clock.
Latenstein finished with five saves for the Railsplitters, who had a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks over the Pioneers. Tusculum was called for 12 fouls to 11 for Lincoln Memorial, while the Pioneers were flagged twice for offsides to once for the Railsplitters.
Tusculum will host Salem in a non-conference match on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Pioneer Field. The Tigers are 2-5-1 this season while playing an independent schedule, but are 2-1-1 in their last four matches.
