Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship: Tusculum Shuts Out Lenoir-Rhyne, 2-0, to Claim Crown

NEWBERRY, S.C. - Tusculum College scored two first half goals, carrying the Pioneers to a 2-0 win and the 2005 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament championship today over Lenoir-Rhyne College at the Newberry Soccer Complex. Sophomore forward Courtney Hambel (Melbourne, Fla.) paced the Pioneers with the game winning goal and an insurance assist. Tusculum improves to 12-5-2 overall, while the Bears fall to 9-9-3.

Play was fairly even throughout most of the first half, until Hambel found the back of the net in the 30th minute off an Ashley Moreira (London, Ontario, Canada) corner kick. Tusculum continued to apply heavy pressure, en route to their second goal just minutes later. Junior forward Amber Ferchaud (Gonzales, La.) pressured Bear keeper Nicole Ley (Cupertino, Calif.), which resulted in a loose ball scramble in the box. Hambel quickly corralled the ball and flicked to freshman forward Kelly Barron (Cincinnati, Ohio) for the goal in the 33rd minute.

Two minutes into the second half, Lenoir-Rhyne senior Cassie Benoit (Freeport, Bahamas) got behind the defense to give Pioneer keeper Whitney Wardrop (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) a scare, but Wardrop was able to make one of several excellent saves. The Bears picked up the intensity late in the half, but couldn't get anything going.

Tusculum out shot the Bears 20-18 and each team took seven corner kicks. In the goal, Wardrop recorded her second game in a row with double digit saves with 13, while Ley made eight stops for the Bears.

Both teams await postseason selections, as the NCAA tournament pairings will be announced on Monday, November 7.

Lenoir-Rhyne College 0 0 - 0

Tusculum College.... 2 0 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 29:21 TC Courtney Hambel (Ashley Moreira) - Off a corner kick
2. 32:45 TC Kelly Barron (Courtney Hambel) - Off a loose ball scramble

Shots: Lenoir-Rhyne College 18, Tusculum College 20

Saves: Lenoir-Rhyne College 10 (Nicole Ley 8; TEAM 2), Tusculum College 14 (Whitney Wardrop 13; TEAM 1)