Box Score

Wingate, N.C.----The Tusculum College Pioneers defeated Wingate University 2-0 in South Atlantic Conference men’s soccer action Thursday night. The Pioneers improve to 7-7-2 overall and 6-1-1 in the SAC. Wingate falls to 4-11 overall and 2-6 in the conference.
 
The Pioneers struck early, when freshman forward Stephen McNeill (Bradenton, Fla.) scored his team-best seventh goal of the season on a penalty kick 3:54 into the contest.
 
McNeill nearly scored his second goal of the match in the 24th minute, but his shot hit the crossbar. The Bulldogs had a great chance in the final 90 seconds of the half. Senior midfielder Fabricio Barancoski (Sao Paulo, Brazil) tried to chip a shot over the Tusculum goalkeeper, but junior Andy Goellner (Denver, Colo.) made a great leaping save. The ball went to the feet of junior forward Gui Lima (Sao Paulo, Brazil), who fired a shot past Goellner that hit the post, giving Barancoski one more chance, but Goellner was there again for the save.
 
Tusculum added an insurance goal 21 minutes into the second half, when freshman midfielder Kjetil Paulsen (Fosnavag, Norway) ripped a shot from just outside the box into the corner of the goal to make it 2-0. Freshman Roberto Pimentel (Campinas, Brazil) assisted on Paulsen’s first goal of the season.
 
The Pioneers out-shot Wingate 18-14 on the night, while holding a slim 9-8 advantage in shots on goal. Goellner had eight saves to preserve the shutout for Tusculum Senior Peter Trask (Alpaus, N.Y.) collected seven saves for the Bulldogs.
 
Wingate returns to action Saturday, traveling to Anderson for a 4 p.m. start. Tusculum travels to Lenoir-Rhyne Sunday at 2 p.m.