NEWBERRY, S.C. — Tusculum University won its fourth straight match with a 2-0 victory over Newberry College in South Atlantic Conference women’s soccer Wednesday at the Smith Road Complex.
Addison Rishling scored in the first half and Marja Enste scored on a penalty kick in the second half for the Pioneers (8-5-2, 5-2-1 SAC), who moved back into third place in the SAC standings with two matches remaining in the regular season. Tusculum has won four straight matches for the first time since collecting six straight victories during the 2016 season.
The Pioneers, who on Wednesday learned that they are one of 10 teams listed as under consideration in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings, can clinch homefield advantage for the quarterfinal round of the SAC Championship tournament with a win in either of their final two matches.
The match was started on Sept. 20 but suspended after 15 minutes due to weather. Rishling scored about 10 minutes after play resumed, and Enste converted her penalty in the 78th minute. Noemie Tartrou made five saves to earn her third shutout of the season.
Rishling had four shots on goal in the first half, including her fourth goal of the season at 25:09. Rishling would finish the match with a career-high seven shot attempts, while accounting for nearly half of Tusculum’s 15 shots on the match.
Newberry nearly tied the match in the 68th minute, but a shot from Brooke Price went off the crossbar. The Wolves had 11 shot attempts as a team, but just five were on target including a pair from Haylee Patino.
In the 78th minute, the Pioneers were awarded a penalty when Sydney Grant was taken down just inside the top of the box. Enste was chosen to take the kick and converted for her third goal of the season and second PK at 77:32.
Madison Gutierrez had six saves for the Wolves, who had three corner kicks to one for the Pioneers. Newberry was whistled for nine fouls to seven for Tusculum in the match, which was played free of cautions.
The Pioneers will travel to Lenoir-Rhyne for a crucial conference match with the Bears on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. The Bears are 9-4-1 overall and in second place with 19 points (6-1-1), three points ahead of the third-place Pioneers. Lenoir-Rhyne had a four-match unbeaten streak end on Wednesday with a 4-0 loss to eighth-ranked North Georgia.
