LIVINGSTON, Ala. — Selis Demirici scored the only goal in the 36th minute as the University of West Alabama defeated Tusculum University 1-0 in women’s soccer Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers (1-0-0) outshot the Pioneers (0-2-0) by a 19-5 margin, including 14-3 in the second half, and had a 10-1 edge in corner kicks. Dior Wilson claimed the shutout victory for West Alabama by making three saves.
Tusculum had the first two shots on goal in the match, but Wilson stopped attempts from Sydney Grant in the 12th minute and Macy Vermillion in the 22nd minute. West Alabama’s first shot came in the 25th minute, but the try from Aileen Charles was saved by Tusculum starting keeper Noemie Tartrou.
The Tigers went up 1-0 at 35:15 on a goal as Demirici split two defenders and beat Tartrou to the near side. West Alabama carried the lead to halftime without allowing any shot attempts from the Pioneers.
In the second half, Angel Chase came in to play goal for the Pioneers and made a save on a header attempt from Amy Denholm in the 47th minute and another on a Lauren Lancaster try in the 53rd minute. Grant was denied by Wilson in the 56th minute to keep the Pioneers off the board.
West Alabama picked up the pressure midway through the half, but Chase made three saves in a two-minute span. Grant had an attempt with just under 20 minutes remaining, but her shot from long distance was wide off the outside of the post.
Chase would make three more saves in the final 12 minutes to keep Tusculum within range, but the Pioneers’ final chance was a corner kick with just over two minutes left that sailed through the box and out of danger.
Chase made eight saves in the second half for the Pioneers, after Tartrou had one save in the opening half. Grant led the Pioneers with three shot attempts and two shots on goal, while Emily Callahan had a team-high five shots for West Alabama.
The Pioneers will return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Lees-McRae for a non-conference match beginning at 4:30 p.m.
