GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Tusculum University and Lees-McRae College finished in a 1-1 draw Wednesday evening in non-conference women’s soccer from Pioneer Field.
A goal by the Bobcats (4-5-2) in the first half was answered by an own goal for the Pioneers (4-4-2) in the second half as Tusculum extended its home unbeaten streak to four matches (2-0-2) while keeping the Bobcats winless on the road at 0-5-1.
Lees-McRae outshot Tusculum 13-8 in the match, with Pioneer keeper Noemie Tartrou making seven saves and the Bobcats’ Laura Walker coming up with six stops.
Walker made a save from close range on the Pioneers’ Sydney Grant in the 12th minute and denied Addison Rishling on a give-and-go pass in the 16th minute. Grant had another good look in the 23rd minute but Walker went to the ground to stop her blast from the right side.
The Bobcats would take a 1-0 lead at 42:18 as a misplay in the Pioneer defense was pounced on by Mia Zulueta, who broke in and beat Tartrou to give Lees-McRae the advantage heading into halftime.
Tartrou made a pair of routine saves on Ainsley Dial in the 55th minute and Brooke Allen in the 57th minute, keeping the Bobcats’ lead at 1-0 into the middle part of the second half.
Tusculum would tie the game at 68:47 when a corner kick from Marje Enste was headed by Bobcat defender Addy Geise back and into the upper corner of the goal, knotting the match at 1-1.
The goalies would make sure the score would not change as Tartrou made three more saves in the final 20 minutes, with Walker adding a pair of stops on Grant in the 76th minute and Carme Escamilla in the 83rd minute.
Lees-McRae had four corner kicks to three for Tusculum, and the Bobcats were called for 10 fouls to six for the Pioneers.
Tusculum will resume its South Atlantic Conference schedule on Saturday, Oct. 11 at eighth-ranked Catawba, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Catawba Indians beat Wingate 3-2 Wednesday night to move into first place in the SAC standings at 4-0-1 in league play and 8-0-2 overall.
