GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Two first-half goals by Tusculum University were answered in the second half by Anderson University as the teams played to a 2-2 draw in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action Wednesday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
Taylor Youmans and reigning SAC Offensive Player of the Week Sydney Grant scored in the first half for the Pioneers (6-3-2, 1-3-2 SAC), each off assists from Bailey Bylotas, but the Trojans (6-2-4, 3-1-3 SAC) responded with second-half goals by Spencer Heming and Meggie Powell to salvage the deadlock.
Anderson outshot Tusculum 14-5 in the match, with Grayson Patterson making eight saves to equal her season high for the Pioneers. Jeanette Campbell finished with two saves for the Trojans, who entered the week ranked 10th in the Southeast Region by the United Soccer Coaches.
Tusculum scored on the first shot of the match at 9:59 as a cross from the goal line by Bylotas was headed in by Youmans for her fifth goal of the season.
Grant, who scored three goals for the Pioneers in wins over Lincoln Memorial and Salem last week, netted her fourth in the last three matches and fifth of the season at 21:38 as a cross from Brianna Garcia to Bylotas was played back in front for Grant, who chipped in for a 2-0 Tusculum lead.
Anderson put seven shots on goal in the first half, but Patterson came up with saves on Powell in the 15th minute, Camryn Woods in the 21st minute just ahead of Grant's goal and on a free kick by Carly Keuffer in the 23rd minute.
Patterson collected a long shot by the Trojans' Kylie Swanson in the 27th minute, then relied on her defense to keep Anderson off the board in the 30th minute. A corner kick from Powell went to Heming about 15 yards out, but Bylotas alertly cleared the ball off the line to keep Tusculum ahead 2-0.
Patterson would stop Heming on another header off a corner kick in the 35th minute and again on a loose ball off a free kick in the 42nd minute. Meanwhile, Campbell collected a one-hopper from Grant on a sharp angle in the 34th minute and a bouncer from the left wing by Chase Stonebreaker in the 39th minute for her only two saves of the afternoon.
Anderson had the first shot of the second half, as Woods fired high from 30 yards. Tusculum would take what would be its final shot attempt of the day at the 49th minute, but a sliding attempt by Rosy Wodhams went over the crossbar.
The Trojans would break through at 54:58 after being awarded a free kick 25 yards from the goal. Keuffer's service went through to the head of Heming, who deposited her second goal of the season to cut the Pioneers' lead to 2-1.
Anderson would equal the match at exactly 64 minutes as Powell hit an inswinging corner kick directly into the goal for her first of the season and a 2-2 score.
After Powell's goal, the Trojans would have no more dangerous scoring threats as Patterson collected a header from Catherine Nardella in the 70th minute and watched Kristen Cole shot wide from 25 yards in the 81st minute on what would be the final shot of the match.
Tusculum nearly took the lead on a fluky play with under four minutes left as a clearing attempt by the Anderson defense caromed off a Pioneer attacker and lofted back over the crossbar.
Anderson was whistled for 16 fouls in the match to 13 by Tusculum, while the Trojans had an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. Tusculum was flagged six times for offsides while Anderson was caught once, and both teams were issued one caution.
Tusculum will head to the road to face Limestone on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. in Gaffney, South Carolina. The Saints won their fourth straight match on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory over Wingate, improving to 8-2-0 overall and fourth place in the league at 5-2-0.
