GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's soccer team travels for the final time during the 2021 regular season when the Pioneers visit Wingate University for their lone match of the week on Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m.
The Pioneers (1-8-2, 0-6-2 SAC) earned a 1-1 draw with Lenoir-Rhyne on Sunday after dropping a 3-2 decision to ninth-ranked Limestone on Wednesday. Tusculum must win its final three matches and receive help from other teams in order to grab the last of the eight spots in the upcoming SAC Championship tournament.
PROFILING THE PIONEERS
Tristyn de Laaf scored two goals, including the tiebreaking goal with just under 20 minutes remaining, as ninth-ranked Limestone defeated Tusculum 3-2 Wednesday night. The Saints led 2-0 in the first half, but the Pioneers chipped away and tied the match on goals by junior forwards Damien Baltide and Ignacio Alconchel. However, de Laaf scored the winning goal on the rebound of a missed penalty kick to keep Limestone in sole possession of first place in the conference.
Tusculum and Lenoir-Rhyne played to a 1-1 draw Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Field. The Bears opened the scoring in the third minute on a goal from Victor Cascon, but the Pioneers responded in the 34th minute as Baltide scored for the third straight game. The teams then played the final 57 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods without further scoring. The Pioneer defense came through with three saves on the back line, including consecutive saves in the 67th minute and another clear in the 85th minute. Pioneer freshman keeper Rayane El Mehdi made nine saves of his own in the draw.
Alconchel continues to lead the Pioneers in goals with seven, which is tied for seventh in the SAC. Alconchel also leads the Pioneers in shot attempts with 36 and shots on goal with 14. Baltide, who has scored in three straight matches, is second on the Pioneers in shot attempts (21) and shots on goal (10). Sophomore forward Pedro Concheso is third on the team in points with five, coming on a goal and three assists.
El Mehdi's nine saves against Lenoir-Rhyne were a season high, coming in his third start of the season. His 1.78 goals against average would rank 10th in the conference if he qualified for the minimum of 33 percent of team goalie minutes played.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Wingate (5-6-1, 3-4-1 SAC) has lost two in a row following a three-match winning streak. The Bulldogs fell 3-2 at Coker last Wednesday, then dropped a 2-1 decision at Anderson on Saturday. Against Coker, the Bulldogs played a man down for the final 25 minutes and allowed two goals in the last 12 minutes to surrender a 2-1 lead.
The Bulldogs are ninth in the SAC with 1.67 goals per game, and are led by junior forward Soren Nygaard who has four goals and an assist for a team-high nine points. Wingate has received goals from 12 different players, including sophomore midfielder Mikkel Fahlen Bruun who has three goals and a pair of assists.
Sophomore Jamie Boegel opened the season as the starting goalkeeper for Wingate, compiling a 1.24 goals against average and a .739 save percentage in five starts. Sophomore Jens Bergendorff has started the last seven matches and has a 1.43 goals against average and a .667 save percentage.
The Pioneers have won two straight over the Bulldogs, including a 2-1 win at home in 2019, and hold a 16-13-0 edge in the series.
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS
Live stats and video are available for all home Tusculum University men's soccer matches. Links to stats and video for home and away matches are available at tusculumpioneers.com.
