GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Joakim Gunnar scored a goal in each half to help Wingate University to a 4-1 victory over Tusculum University in South Atlantic Conference men’s soccer Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
Gunnar scored in the 10th and 58th minutes for the Bulldogs (1-3-0, 1-0-0 SAC), who outshot the Pioneers (0-3-0, 0-1-0 SAC) by a 14-8 margin. Kyle McCloskey and Kimo Lemke added goals for Wingate, which led 2-0 at halftime and limited Tusculum to three shots on goal.
Mason Clark scored the only goal for the Pioneers in the 53rd minute to cut the deficit to 2-1, but Gunnar got his second of the day just 4 1/2 minutes later before Lemke capped the scoring in the 81st minute.
Tusculum had the first scoring opportunity in the 3rd minute as Clarenns Sainrimat had a step on the defense down the left side, but his shot went wide of the far post. Wingate had two chances less than a minute apart, but Tusculum defender Linus Salomonson cleared two shots off the line, one from Gunnar and the other from Jude Enwhistle.
The Bulldogs got on the board at 9:12 as a misplay in the back by the Pioneers allowed Gunnar to come up with a loose ball and score into an open net. Wingate kept up the pressure in the 28th minute, forcing Tusculum keeper Noe Delmotte to make back-to-back saves on Havard Kristoffersen and Gunnar.
On the ensuing corner kick, McCloskey headed home the pass from Simon Curto to give Wingate a 2-0 lead at 28:05. Kristoffersen had a good chance in the 31st minute, but Delmotte steered the shot wide on the dive.
Tusculum got on the board at 52:57 as a long free kick from Hugo Le Floch went to Clark at the top of the box, and he chipped a shot past Wingate keeper Luca Srzic to cut the deficit to 2-1.
A short time later, Curto had a long pass from his defensive end that went to the top of the Tusculum box, where Gunnar jumped and headed the ball over Delmotte and watched it bound into the goal for his second of the day and a 3-1 Bulldogs lead at 57:38.
Wingate closed the scoring at 80:20 as Olle Nordenhall was pushed to the ground while chasing a loose ball in the box. Lemke stepped up for the penalty and went high over Delmotte for a 4-1 Bulldogs advantage.
Delmotte finished with five saves in goal for the Pioneers, while Srzic had two saves for the Bulldogs. Wingate had 11 corner kicks in the match to five for Tusculum, and the Bulldogs were called for 16 fouls while the Pioneers were whistled 11 times. Wingate was flagged five times for offsides to one for Tusculum.
The Pioneers step back out of conference play to visit Bob Jones on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. The Bruins were 2-1-1 heading into their Saturday night match against Truett McConnell.
