FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10-15-07

College Soccer: Tusculum 4, No. 14 AASU 1

Tanner put the Pioneers (10-5) up quickly, scoring in the sixth minute with a brilliant shot in the upper half that beat Pirate keeper Tracey Mitchell for the 1-0 lead. The goal was the first that the Pirates had given up 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. The Pioneers would outshot the Pirates, 10-5, in taking the 2-0 lead into intermission.

Just four minutes into the second half, a solid set piece would give Tanner the hat trick. Courtney Turner played a short corner to a defender, received the ball back, then delivered a cross that Tanner headed into the net for the goal, her 13^th of the season.

The Pirates (10-3-1) would make a match of it late as Lyndsi Stricklen picked up a goal in the 67^th minute, from a through ball by Kristin Burton, bringing the score to 3-1. It was the fifth straight match in which Stricklen has found the back of the net. AASU controlled play for the next 10 minutes, putting five shots against Tusculum keeper Tori Hadjopolous, but the Pioneers would clinch the match on Kelly Barron’s breakaway goal off of a through ball from Tanner in the 81^st minute.

Tusculum finished the match with a 19-16 edge in shots and Hadjopolous made six saves in net. Mitchell allowed all four goals and made five saves for the Pirates. The two teams started the week tied atop the NCAA’s Southeast Region rankings, and new rankings will come out on Wednesday.

AASU returns to action on Saturday, October 20, with a 4:00 p.m. Peach Belt Conference match at North Georgia. Tusculum is next in action on Sunday, October 21, with a 3:00 p.m. match at Mount Olive.

- Pirates -