GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Lukas Bos scored on a rebound early in the second half to give Anderson University a 1-0 victory over Tusculum University in South Atlantic Conference men’s soccer Wednesday evening at Pioneer Field. The Trojans (6-6-1, 5-4-0 SAC) outshot the Pioneers (1-8-2, 1-5-2 SAC) by a 14-8 margin, but were denied several times by Tusculum keeper Noe Delmotte before netting what turned out to be the match-winning goal.
Delmotte finished with seven saves for the Pioneers, who have allowed one goal or fewer in six of their last eight matches. Franco Antoniolli Funes had four saves to earn the first shutout of the season for the Trojans, who have won three straight away conference matches. The Trojans had two excellent scoring chances in the first 10 minutes as Diego Jaramillo got behind the Pioneer defense twice, but Delmotte was able to smother the one-on-one chance each time. Tusculum’s first shot on goal came in the 19th minute from distance by Gui Busato.
Delmotte made another excellent save in the 26th minute as he went down to his left to deflect a blast from Wesley Ajavon. Delmotte’s fifth save of the half came in the 40th minute when he collected a roller off the foot of Juan Pablo Lepervanche.
Tusculum’s best chance of the night came in the 53rd minute as a pass from Enoch Brako went cross-field to Devin Vital, but Antoniolli came out to challenge and punched away the attempt about 15 yards from the goal line.
Anderson went up 1-0 at 61:32 as Jaramillo took a shot from 10 yards that Delmotte saved as he went to the ground, but the ball rolled free to Bos who had the entire net to score his second goal of the season.
Tusculum’s last chance came with just under two minutes left as Asbjorn Saevik took a long shot from the right side that Antoniolli jumped to grab. The Trojans were then able to pack in the defense and run out the clock.
The Trojans were awarded 13 corner kicks in the match to four for the Pioneers, while Anderson was called for eight fouls to seven by Tusculum in the caution-free match, the second of the season for the Pioneers.
Tusculum hosts Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 4:30 p.m. at Pioneer Field. The Bears enter Saturday’s match tied for sixth in the SAC with 12 points (4-5-0).
