Monday, October 15, 2007

TANNER SCORES HAT-TRICK, TUSCULUM BEATS NO. 14 AASU 4-1

SAVANNAH, Ga. --- Danielle Tanner recorded a hat-trick as the Tusculum College women's soccer team defeated 14th-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University 4-1 Monday afternoon at the AT&T Field. It was a battle between the two squads that were tied for first in the latest NCAA Division II Southeast Region Poll.

Tanner notched her 11^th, 12^th and 13^th goals of the season, including her fifth match-winner of 2007.

Tanner put the Pioneers up quickly, scoring in the seventh minute with a brilliant shot in the upper half that beat AASU keeper Tracey Mitchell for the 1-0 lead. The goal was the first that the Pirates had surrendered all year at home in six matches.

Less than seven minutes later, Tanner would add another as she corralled a loose ball in the box and beat Mitchell high for her second goal of the match and a 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.

Just four minutes into the second half, a solid set piece would give Tanner the hat-trick, her second of the season. Courtney Turner played a short corner to Nicole Ferris, received the ball back and then delivered a cross that Tanner headed into the net for the goal.

AASU picked up a goal in the 67^th minute, from a through ball by Kristin Burton, brining the score to 3-1. The Pirates would control the ball for the next 10 minutes, placing five shots against TC keeper Tori Hadjopoulos, but the Pioneers would seal the win on Kelly Barron's breakaway goal off a through ball from Tanner at the 80:31 mark. It was Barron's fifth goal of the 2007 campaign. Hadjopoulos would finish with six saves on the day.

The Pioneers improve to 10-5 on the season, while the Pirates fall to 10-3-1 on the year. AASU also drops its first home match of the season.

Tusculum returns to action Sunday afternoon with an important region road match at Mount Olive College, beginning at 3 p.m.

- TC -