GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Kelsey Smith scored the go-ahead goal with 6:24 remaining as Coker University used two second-half goals to earn a 2-1 victory over Tusculum University in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
Lily Borgman scored the tying goal early in the second half and assisted on Smith's winner for the Cobras (3-1-1, 1-1-0 SAC), who trailed 1-0 at halftime after Tusculum (0-3-1, 0-2-0 SAC) scored in the 31st minute on a goal from Brynn Stokes.
The Pioneers outshot the Cobras by a 15-7 margin, but Coker goalkeeper Rhyan Parkin came up with seven saves in the victory. The Pioneers also had an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks in the match.
Both teams had chances in the first 10 minutes, but Tusculum keeper Grayson Patterson made a save on Catrionna Manning off a cross in the third minute and Parkin denied Sydney Grant on a one-on-one chance from 15 yards in the 10th minute. In the 20th minute, Marin Wills moved in to within 10 yards with a defender on her and slipped a shot wide of the near side.
Joey Garrett had a free kick from 25 yards out in the 27th minute, but her blast was cradled by Parkin. A deflected shot in the box went to the Pioneers' Wilma Axelsson in the 29th minute, but her shot from 15 yards was pulled in by a lunging Parkin.
Moments after a shot from Grant was batted away and over the end line by Parkin, Tusculum would go ahead 1-0 as the corner kick from Marja Enste went to the head of Stokes, who beat Parkin to the near post for her first career goal at 30:30.
The Pioneers had one more chance with five minutes left in the half, as Wills picked up a loose ball in the box and took a shot that was stopped by Parkin as she fell to her knees. Parkin would finish with five saves in the first half as the Pioneers carried a 1-0 lead to intermission.
Coker knotted the game with 34:28 left as a corner kick by Mallie Bates was headed in by Borgman for her second goal of the season and a 1-1 score.
Patterson kept the game even in the 75th minute, making a save off a deflected shot from Smith and following up by reaching out to bat aside a bid to the far post from Mila Rausch. Tusculum nearly took the lead with nine minutes left, but a shot toward the near post by Axelsson was pulled in on the dive by Parkin. Stokes nearly collected her second of the match with just under eight minutes left, but her shot from close range was stopped by Parkin.
Off a Tusculum corner kick, Borgman cleared her defensive end with a long pass to midfield that Smith pulled in, carried down the field and beat Patterson to the far post for her second of the year with 6:24 to play for a 2-1 Coker lead.
The Pioneers would have one more good scoring chance with just under six minutes to play, but the attempt from the far right side by McKenzie Hanson just missed the crossbar.
Coker was whistled for 12 fouls in the match to 10 by the Pioneers, while all three cards were shown to the Cobras.
Tusculum will remain home to face Mars Hill on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. at Pioneer Field. The Lions are off to a 3-0-1 start, including a 1-1 draw against Young Harris in their latest action on Wednesday.
