ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson University women's soccer team went 3-1-1 over its past five matches to position itself in the No. 6 spot heading into SAC Championship play on Tuesday. The Trojans will travel to Tusculum for a 5 p.m. showdown while looking to avenge a 1-0 home loss to the Pioneers earlier this season.
"We are delighted to be blessed with another opportunity to play in the SAC Championships this year, said head coach Julie Carlson. "The team has persevered through various trials and tribulations on the field when it comes to scoring goals and breaking down opposition threats. We feel strongly about our abilities going up against Tusculum in the 1st round. It is a game we wanted back from the regular season walking away with a loss to them at home and feeling that the outcome should have been different based on our overall performance. There has been a lot of parody this year and we are determined to come into the tournament with lots of confidence and belief in ourselves. It is important that the team has experience and that will be instrumental tomorrow night."
"Finishing sixth is fair considering some of our outcomes that should have gone differently," noted Carlson. "I think it brings motivation to the team when they know what they are able to do. They have been great as of late coming back and rolling their sleeves up and getting after it when minutes are winding down. I am very proud of them for that."
MATCH SETUP
• Who – No. 6 Anderson (9-5-1, 6-4-1 SAC) at No. 3 Tusculum (10-5-2, 8-2-1 SAC)
• When - Tuesday (5 p.m.)
• Where – Greeneville, Tenn. (Pioneer Field)
COVERAGE
• Live Stats - http://tusculumpioneers.com/sports/wsoc/2016-17/boxscores/20161101_uph2.xml
SERIES HISTORY
Last season, Anderson won its first regular season match, 2-1 (2OT), over Tusculum since a 1-0 double overtime triumph in 2011. That same year, AU and TC squared off in the first round of the SAC Tournament with TC winning on penalty kicks to advance to the next round. During SAC action earlier this season, the Pioneers claimed a 1-0 victory at Trojan Stadium pushing their all-time lead over the Black and Gold to 2-4-1.
ANDERSON OVERVIEW
• The Trojans average 15.2 shots per match.
• Senior Tina shakes leads the Black and Gold with 10 goals and four assists. Shakes is 4th in goals and in total points within the SAC.
• Nine different Trojans have scored a goal this season.
• Sophomore Abby Helm has logged over 1094 minutes in goal while being credited with 54 saves and six clean sheets.
TUSCULUM OVERVIEW
• Carlie Thornber, Carly Mill and Rachel Roberts lead the Pioneers with three goals apiece.
• 12 different Pioneers have scored at least one goal this season.
• Senior Olivia Kilgore leads Tusculum and is tied for second in the conference with eight assists on the year.
• The Pioneers average 15.1 shots per match.
• Senior keeper Miriah Martin has logged over 1585 minutes in goal while being credited with 68 saves and 4 clean sheets.
ANDERSON VS TUSCULUM RECAP (9-24-16)
• After starting conference play out 3-0, the Pioneers handed the Trojans their first SAC loss of the season.
• The lone goal was scored in the 48th minute to set the final score, 1-0, at Trojan Stadium and was sophomore Katja Andersson's last goal scored so far this season.
• Anderson played without its starting goalie with reserve keeper Bianca Porras recording six saves before the Pioneers were able to score the game-winning goal.
• Tusculum outshot Anderson 15-13 while taking five more corner kicks than the Trojans.
• The Trojans and Pioneers were each whistled for seven fouls apiece.
SAC TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
The winner of Tuesday's match will advance to the semifinals against the winner of Tuesday's quarterfinal match between seventh-seeded Catawba and second-seeded Carson-Newman. The semifinal match will be played at 1:30 Friday at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, S.C., which will be the site of the championship match on Sunday at 1 p.m.
2016 South Atlantic Conference Women's Soccer Championship
Quarterfinals: Tuesday, November 1
at campus sites
Game 1: #8 Newberry at #1 Lenoir-Rhyne, 7:30 pm
Game 2: #5 Wingate at #4 Queens, 7 pm
Game 3: #7 Catawba at #2 Carson-Newman, 5 pm
Game 4: #6 Anderson at #3 Tusculum, 5 pm
Semifinals: Friday, November 4
at Manchester Meadows (Rock Hill, S.C.)
Game 5: Winner game 1 vs. Winner game 2, 11 am
Game 6: Winner game 3 vs. Winner game 4, 1:30 pm
Final: Sunday, November 6
at Manchester Meadows (Rock Hill, S.C.)
Game 7: Winner game 5 vs. Winner game 6, 1 pm
