GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Wilma Axelsson's goal early in the second half lifted Tusculum University to a 3-2 victory over Coker University in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
The Pioneers (7-5-2, 4-2-1 SAC) won their third straight match and improved to 4-1-2 in October by twice rallying from one-goal deficits against the Cobras (7-3-4, 3-2-3 SAC), who had a six-match unbeaten streak (3-0-3) snapped by allowing a season-high three goals to Tusculum. Coker had conceded just seven total goals in its first 13 matches and entered the game with four straight shutouts in conference play.
Tusculum overcame a pair of first-half goals from Coker's Ella Wilke by receiving goals from Marin Wills and Carme Escamilla to go into halftime tied at 2-2. After Axelsson's tiebreaking goal in the 56th minute, the Pioneers would allow just one shot on goal the rest of the match by the Cobras.
With the victory, Tusculum moved into the top four in the conference standings with three matches remaining in the regular season. The Pioneers celebrated Senior Day by extending their home unbeaten streak to seven matches (five wins, two draws) for the first time since a 6-0-1 stretch at Pioneer Field during the 2016 season.
Wilke opened the scoring just 2:01 into the first half as she moved around the defense down the left side and shot over Tusculum keeper Noemie Tartrou for her sixth goal of the season. The Pioneers would respond just 1:38 later as Axelsson passed to Hailey Silvestri on the far left side, and her service into the box was played by Wills and shot past Rhyan Parkin for her fourth of the year at 3:39.
Parkin came through with a save on Addison Rishling in the sixth minute, while Marja Enste rang a shot off the right post in the 32nd minute. Wilke put Coker back on top 2-1 at 38:46 as she pounced on a free ball at the top of the box and one-timed her second of the day past Tartrou.
That lead would last just 57 seconds as Sydney Grant moved down the right side and crossed back to Escamilla, who went low past Parkin for her fourth goal at 39:43. Tusculum would have two more chances late in the half, but Parkin had saves on Grant in the 41st minute and Kirsten Sadlon in the 44th minute.
In the second half, Grant broke behind the defense in the 54th minute to chase a loose ball, but Parkin came off her line to smother the shot attempt. Just under two minutes later, Axelsson beat two defenders to a loose ball, turned out and fired a shot past Parkin to the far top corner for her second of the season and the first Tusculum lead of the day at 3-2 at 55:11.
Tartrou made her only save of the day an important one as she punched a shot through traffic by Hollie Tappin over the crossbar in the 69th minute. Escamilla had a bid for a second goal in the 76th minute, but her effort was grabbed by Parkin. Wills also had a look at a brace in the 84th minute, but a shot in a scramble was wide of the target.
Coker had five corner kicks in the match to three for Tusculum, while the Cobras were called for 11 fouls to six for the Pioneers.
Parkin had five saves for the Cobras, with Tartrou making one save for the Pioneers to earn the win.
Tusculum will travel to Newberry to finish a suspended match with the Wolves on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. The teams started the match on Sept. 20 but it was halted after 15 minutes due to weather. Newberry (5-4-3, 1-4-2 SAC) played to a 1-1 draw with Emory & Henry on Saturday.
