GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Hugo Le Floch scored on a free kick with 14:54 remaining in the second half to lift Tusculum University to a 2-1 victory over Lincoln Memorial University in South Atlantic Conference men’s soccer Wednesday night at Pioneer Field.
Le Floch set up the first goal for the Pioneers with a free kick that was headed in by Joao Pedro Peres in the 19th minute, before scoring his second of the season in the 76th minute for the Pioneers (2-5-0, 1-3-0 SAC), who were outshot 14-6 by the Railsplitters (2-5-1, 2-1-1 SAC).
Tusculum led 1-0 at halftime before Damian Saccento scored on a rebound in the 58th minute to tie the match at 1-1. After Le Floch gave Tusculum the 2-1 lead with under 15 minutes to play, Pioneer keeper Noe Delmotte stepped up to make key saves on Botond Skulka in the 81st minute and Gian-Carlo Karna in the 90th minute to preserve the lead.
Lincoln Memorial nearly took the lead just 3 1/2 minutes into the match, but a long shot from Dani Cruz rang off the right post behind Delmotte. The Pioneers got on the board at 18:20 as a free kick from the left side from Le Floch was flicked by the head of Peres past Lincoln Memorial keeper Daniel Miklosi.
Early in the second half, the Railsplitters tied the match at 1-1 as a shot from Skulka was saved by Delmotte, but Saccento was positioned perfectly for the rebound as he finished his first goal of the season at 57:35.
Tusculum earned a free kick from 25 yards out in the 74th minute, and Le Floch launched a shot over the wall and past a screened Miklosi at 75:06 to give the Pioneers a 2-1 advantage.
Delmotte came up with a save on a shot from distance by Skulka with just over nine minutes left. Lincoln Memorial would bring the pressure in the final minute, but Delmotte saved the best for last as he dove to his right to punch away a downward header from Karna with 43 seconds on the clock.
Delmotte finished with five saves in the match for the Pioneers while Miklosi had two saves for the Railsplitters. Lincoln Memorial had all four corner kicks in the contest, with Tusculum being called for 17 fouls to 14 for the Railsplitters.
The Pioneers are home to take on Mars Hill on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. at Pioneer Field. The Lions took down Wingate 1-0 Wednesday night to improve to 3-1-4 overall and 1-0-2 in the SAC.
