ANDERSON, S.C. - Junior Lars Zimmerman's 17th minute goal proved to the game-winner as Anderson University men's soccer picked up a 1-0 shutout over Tusculum in South Atlantic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Trojan Stadium.
The triumph snaps a three-match winless streak and moves the Trojans to 4-5 overall with a 3-2 mark in the conference. On the other side, the setback drops the Pioneers to 3-5-1 on the season with a 1-3-1 mark for the SAC.
Despite winning on the scoreboard, AU was outshot by the visitors, 16-7, headlined by a 10-shot performance in the final 45 minutes by the Pioneers. For Anderson, junior Andre Carle led the way with four shots for the match, while Zimmerman, Alex Delpy and substitute Magnus Larsen all claimed a single shot on the afternoon.
After a back-and-forth start to the match, the Trojans were awarded a corner kick in the 17th minute. Delpy sent the cross into the Tusculum box where he found an open Carle. Carle's touch found the head and Zimmerman who knocked his shot off the right post and into the back of the net. For Zimmerman, the goal was his first of the 2014 campaign after entering the match with nine career goals.
On the goal, Carle added his second assist on the year as he continues to lead the team in points with eight, while Delpy tallied his first assist on the year.
With the goal in hand, the Anderson backline, consisting of Zimmerman, Delpy, Mattias Schyberg, Andres Lozano and Oliver Wright, limited Tusculum to just three shots on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Bo Haug closed the afternoon with three saves earning his fourth clean sheet of the season. With the shutout, the sophomore reached double figures in shutouts for his career with 10.
Haug's counterpart, Ashley Elsey, dropped his fourth contest on the year while matching Haug's save tally of three. All three of Elsey's saves came in the second half.
Anderson continues SAC play on Wednesday when it travels to Newberry. Kickoff from the Smith Road Complex is slated for 3:30 p.m.
