WINGATE, N.C. --- Tusculum University and Wingate University played to a 0-0 draw in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action Saturday afternoon.
With the draw, the Pioneers (9-3-4, 3-3-4 SAC) extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches (5-0-3) and clinched a berth in the upcoming SAC Championship tournament. Tusculum's two latest draws have come against Limestone and Wingate, both of which were among the 10 teams under consideration in the initial NCAA Southeast Region rankings announced this week.
Tusculum was outshot by a 19-3 margin by Wingate (8-3-4, 3-3-4 SAC) but each team had three shots on goal in the match. The shutout was the third in a row for Pioneer keeper Grayson Patterson and extended her streak without conceding a goal to 320 minutes, 15 seconds spanning four matches.
Wingate had the first shot on goal in the 16th minute, but an attempt from the top of the box by Brianna Ditillo bounced in to Patterson. Tusculum's first shot came in the 18th minute on a free kick, but Wingate keeper Katrine Thisgaard made the stop.
Wingate would threaten against in the 29th minute, but a shot by Sophie Husted from 20 yards was collected by Patterson. The Bulldogs would have three more shot attempts in the half, but all were off target as the teams went to intermission.
The best scoring chance of the match came in the 59th minute as a cross by Wingate from the right side went off the fingertips of Patterson and to Ditillo in front, but Tusculum's Chayse Stonebraker was able to clear the line and keep the match scoreless.
The Pioneers put a shot on target off a throw-in in the 68th minute, but Brianna Garcia's attempt was caught by Thisgaard. In the 71st minute, Joey Garrett lofted a shot from the top right of the box that Thisgaard bobbled and controlled for the save.
The last shot of the match came with 3 1/2 minutes left as Ditillo just missed the near post on a sliding shot from a cross near the goal line.
Wingate had all seven corner kicks in the match, while both teams were called for 10 fouls. After outshooting Tusculum 10-1 in the first half, Wingate had a 9-2 edge in shots in the second half.
Patterson's shutout was her seventh of the season, moving her into a tie for fifth place on the Tusculum single-season shutout list with Jennie Murphy (2000 and 2001) and Marissa Williams (2011 and 2012).
The Pioneers will conclude the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at home against Carson-Newman, beginning at 5 p.m. The Eagles (9-3-3, 7-2-1 SAC) are assured of finishing third in the SAC standings.
