Sunday, September 11, 2005

TUSCULUM EDGES NEWBERRY FOR 2-1 OT VICTORY

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Dave Bailey (Bristol, England) scored a goal with 2:35 remaining in the first overtime period to give the No. 1 Tusculum men’s soccer team a 2-1 South Atlantic Conference victory over Newberry. With the win, TC improves to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the SAC. Newberry slips to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the SAC. (Box Score)

For the Pioneers, the story of the match was missed opportunities, as Tusculum out-shot the Indians 27-4 but could convert only twice.

Bailey put TC on the board in the 26^th minute when he took a cross-field pass from Jay Harris (London, England) and nailed a goal from the right wing. Newberry tied the contest at 1-1 in the 31^st minute when Jeffrey Taylor (Sumter, S.C) found Jeff Bell (Johnston, S.C.) for a goal from about five yards out. The teams headed into the half with one goal apiece.

Neither team was able to establish any momentum for a good portion of the second half, primarily due to physical play and a number of called fouls. Both squads blasted shots that came ever-so-close to finding the back of the net, but TC goalkeeper J.P. Swaminathan (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) and NC keeper Bryan Linn (Safety Harbor, Fla.) made spectacular diving saves to preserve the 1-1 score and send the match into overtime.

In the 97^th minute, Linn charged toward the top of the box to thwart an attacking TC offense. Despite his efforts, Linn fell down, and the ball squirted past him and into the path of the attacking Bailey who drove in the match-winner for the Pioneers.

Linn concluded the match with seven saves, while Swaminathan recorded two.

Tusculum will hit the road for its first away match on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at Presbyterian. The SAC showdown is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. in Clinton, S.C.

-TC-