GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — A goal in each half gave the University of West Alabama a 2-0 victory over Tusculum University in non-conference women’s soccer Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
Bailee Fairley scored in the 34th minute and Selis Demirci added a goal in the 60th minute for the Tigers (3-0-1), who were outshot 10-7 by the Pioneers (2-2-0) but received four saves from Yumari Hernandez to earn the shutout win.
Neither team had a dangerous scoring chance until the 26th minute, when Tusculum keeper Noemie Tartrou came out to smother a shot attempt near the top of the box from West Alabama’s Emily Callahan.
West Alabama took a 1-0 lead at 33:06 as a long pass from the back by Jade Arruda was carried by Aileen Charles, who crossed to Fairley in front. Tartrou was able to get a piece of the shot from Fairley, but not enough to keep it from going in for her second goal of the season.
Tusculum put its first shot on goal in the final minute of the first half as a free kick from Marja Enste was stopped by Hernandez. Tartrou followed up in the final seconds with a lunging stop against Abby Regan as the Tigers carried a 1-0 lead to intermission.
The Pioneers had a couple chances early in the second half, but a free kick from Enste was wide of the goal and a header off a corner kick by Carme Escamilla went over the frame.
West Alabama stretched its lead to 2-0 at 59:55 as Demirci one-timed a loose ball from 20 yards and sailed it through traffic and to the far post behind Tusculum keeper Holly Cowan.
Hernandez made the lead stand up as she collected saves on Amya Parker in the 79th minute, Juliana Garrison in the 84th minute and Adriana Netskos in the 87th minute.
Tartrou finished with two saves in the first half for the Pioneers, with Cowan facing just one shot in the final 45 minutes.
Tusculum had an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks over West Alabama, while the Tigers were called for 10 fouls to three for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers are on the road to face Lander on Wednesday, Sept. 17 beginning at 7 p.m. The Bearcats are off to a 2-1-1 start following a 2-1 loss at Wingate on Saturday.
