Saturday, October 2, 2004

GREENEVILE, Tenn. --- Tusculum College built a 5-0 lead with senior Paul Hopkins (Portsmouth, England) and junior Gerald Watt (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) scoring two goals each as the eighth-ranked Pioneers cruised to a 5-2 South Atlantic Conference men's soccer win over Wingate University Saturday night at Pioneer Field. (Box Score)

With the win, Tusculum ups its record to 9-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play. Wingate falls to 6-2-2 and 2-1. TC faces arch-rival and third-ranked Carson-Newman College Wednesday afternoon in Jefferson City, Tenn. Wingate hosts Wheeling Jesuit University next Saturday.

Hopkins started the scoring in the 10^th minute off a pass from senior Andre Nesfield (Arima, Trinidad), whose cross in the box beat the Wingate keeper.

Watt added his first 15 minutes later when his long-distance shot was mishandled the Bulldog netminder. Watt made the score 3-0 heading into halftime on his sixth goal of the season.

Junior Jay Harris (London, England) pushed the lead to 4-0 less than a minute into the second half, knocking in a rebound off a Nesfield shot. Hopkins notched his team-leading 11^th scoring tally in the 69^th minute.

Wingate freshman Jordan Bowen (Conyers, Ga.) and junior Travis Myernick (Thorton, Colo.) each scored goals in the final seven minutes for the 5-2 final.

TC sophomore J.P. Swaminathan (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) went the distance in goal, making two saves. Sophomore Brian Noell (Hickory, N.C.) and junior Dustin Prickett (Lakeland, Fla.) each played a half for the Bulldogs.