Women’s Soccer Loses in Overtime to Pioneers

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Taylor Lewis headed in the winning goal with 3:05 remaining in the first overtime period as Tusculum College won 3-2 over visiting Mars Hill College Thursday afternoon at Pioneer Field in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action. The Pioneers are 5-1-1 and 1-0 inthe SAC. The Lions fall to 3-4 on the season and 0-2 in the league.

Lewis took a crossing pass from Tramicka James at the 96:55 mark just to the left of the keeper and headed in the winner from seven yards away.

Tusculum possessed the ball for a majority of the match as they would outshoot their cross-mountain rivals by a 19-5 margin, while leading the corner kick margin as well, 10-2.

Despite the differential in the time of possession, Mars Hill took advantage of the opportunities that did arise, scoring the first goal of the match in the 20th minute when Alyssa Morris connected on her first goal of the season, taking a header pass off a free kick and knocked it past TC keeper Marissa Williams for a 1-0 MHC lead. Morris' goal was assisted by Grace Lancaster and Danielle Franco.

The goal was the first allowed by Williams and the Pioneers in 388 straight minutes.

Tusculum got the equalizer in the 56th minute when Kim Brown headed in a cross from James in front of the box, blasting in her third goal of the year to even the match at 1-1.

TC's Nikki Arthur looked to have scored the match-winner with five minutes remaining in regulation when she gathered in a loose ball in the box, turned and shot past MHC keeper Chelsea Parker to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead.

That lead would only last 43 seconds though, as Aerial Ellis sent in a cross from the right side that deflected off the hand of Williams, right to the foot of Catherine Watkins-Banks as she tapped it in from five yards out to even the score at 2-2 and send the match into extra time.

It was the second straight overtime match for both teams. TC and UNC Pembroke played to a scoreless draw on Sept. 12, while Mars Hill dropped a 1-0 overtime decision to Lincoln Memorial last Friday in MHC's league lid-lifter.

Williams recorded two saves as she went the distance, while Parker accounted for three stops as she went the full 97 minutes for the visitors.

Mars Hill will travel to Brevard College on Saturday to face the Tornados at 2 p.m.