GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Marin Wills scored two first-half goals as Tusculum University defeated Bluefield State University 3-0 in non-conference women’s soccer Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
Hailey Silvestri also scored for the Pioneers (6-5-2), who smothered the Big Blues (2-7-1) on defense with a 24-0 advantage in shot attempts. Tusculum had not held an opponent without a shot attempt since Newberry on Oct. 31, 2001 and had not gone an entire game without yielding a shot on goal since Salem on Oct. 1, 2022.
Wills scored in the eighth minute off an assist from Ellie Bielenda, and Silvestri added her first career goal in the 20th minute for a 2-0 Tusculum lead. Wills collected her second of the day and third of the season at 23:11 to give Tusculum a 3-0 advantage, and the Pioneer defense did the rest.
Kaycee Coty had 11 saves in goal for Bluefield State, with Holly Cowan collecting her first shutout of the season in her third start of the year for Tusculum.
Tusculum had a 14-2 advantage in corner kicks over Bluefield State, and the Pioneers were whistled for eight fouls to six for the Big Blues.
The Pioneers, who are 4-1-2 at home this season, will host Coker on Senior Day on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 12:30 p.m. The Cobras (7-2-4) are in third place in the SAC at 3-1-3 for 12 points, two points ahead of the fifth-place Pioneers, and are 3-0-3 in their last six matches heading into Saturday’s matchup.
