ANDERSON, S.C. --- Two goals by Anderson University in the final 11 minutes rallied the Trojans for a 2-1 victory over Tusculum University in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action Saturday afternoon.
Ansley Donovan scored the tying goal with just over 10 minutes remaining, and Bethany Morgan scored the go-ahead goal with 5:39 left as Anderson (3-5-1, 1-3-1 SAC) got both of their goals off corner kicks. Brianna Garcia scored in the 76th minute to give Tusculum (2-7-0, 2-3-0 SAC) a 1-0 lead, but the Pioneers were outshot 24-9 by the Trojans in the match.
Anderson had early pressure that led to a pair of corner kicks, but the Trojans shot wide on the first attempt and Tusculum keeper Emma Harriman made a save on Kendall Simpson on the second try in the 13th minute.
Tusculum earned its first corner kick in the 21st minute, but a header from Kenzie Ellenburg off the service from Kaitlyn Watson was smothered by Anderson keeper Jeanette Campbell. Two minutes later, Anderson's Havon Ashy was in position at the far post but pushed the ball just wide of target following a cross by Brandi Greenlee.
Anderson had another shot attempt following a short corner in the 30th minute, but Kristin Cole was high of the target on a clean look from 20 yards. Another corner kick in the 35th minute was grabbed by a leaping Harriman before a Trojan player could field the pass.
The best chance for the Trojans came in the 36th minute, as Carson Kelly broke in from the left side but Harriman deflected the shot out of bounds. Erin Cepeda had a good opportunity in the 38th minute, but an extra touch as she came in one on one allowed Harriman to take the ball off Cepeda's foot with a dive.
Tusculum's best chance of the first half came with 3 1/2 minutes to go, as Ellenburg eluded two defenders and took a rising shot from the left top corner of the box that was tipped over the crossbar by Campbell.
In the second half, Harriman made a save on a long free kick by Ashy in the 59th minute, jumped to make a stop on Bethany Anderson in the 63rd minute and grabbed a shot from Brandi Greenlee in the 65th minute. Tusculum put its first shot on goal of the second half in the 72nd minute, as Julianne Fox's attempt from a sharp angle was pulled in by Campbell.
Tusculum finally broke the stalemate at 75:34 as a perfectly-placed through ball by Elise Gallo found Garcia behind two defenders, and her shot from 15 yards beat Campbell to the far post for her second goal in as many matches and a 1-0 Pioneer lead.
Anderson threatened in the 79th minute off a corner kick from Ashy, but the shot from Donovan went wide of the near post. The duo would connect on their next corner kick at 79:47, as Donovan headed home the corner from Ashy to tie the match at 1-1 on her second goal of the season.
The Trojans went up 2-1 following another corner kick with just under six minutes to play. Off the corner, a shot by Maggie Black was blocked by the defense and caromed to Morgan, whose shot from the penalty spot sailed over the Tusculum defense and into the goal for her first of the season with 5:39 remaining.
Tusculum's final shot attempt came from Garcia with 4:18 remaining, but her effort was wide of the target and the Trojans were able to run out the clock in the Pioneers' end of the field. Tusculum had one final attack in the final 30 seconds, but the Anderson defense played the ball down the field as time expired.
Harriman finished with five saves in goal for the Pioneers, while Campbell had four saves for the Trojans. Anderson had 11 corner kicks to four for the Pioneers, with Tusculum flagged four times for offsides.
Tusculum will return home to face Georgia College in a non-conference match on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Pioneer Field. The Pioneers will play all but two of their remaining contests at home to conclude the regular season.
