Tusculum Defeats Anderson 2-1 to Win 2018 SAC Men's Soccer Championship
Team Stats
| Game Statistics | Anderson | Tusculum |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 10 (4) | 19 (10) |
| Saves | 8 | 3 |
| Fouls | 9 | 17 |
| Corner Kicks | 2 | 4 |
| Offsides | 1 | 7 |
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The No. 3 seeded Tusculum University Pioneers defeated the No. 4 seeded Anderson University Trojans 2-1 to win their seventh conference championship in their ninth attempt, having now claimed the title in their last five appearances.
The Pioneers came into the match on a 9-1-1 stretch and had shut Anderson out in their last three head-to-head meetings. Jonny Winter, the tournament's most valuable player, opened up the contest's scoring in the 71st minute on a pass from Shawn Foster. Ayuk Tambe scored the game-winner in the 78th minute to lift Tusculum over the Trojans.
Anderson's lone goal came in the 75th minute, courtesy of a cross from the left side by Cameron Emerson to Harry Ward, who then sent the header to the back of the net.
With the win, Tusculum earns an Automatic Qualifier to the NCAA southeast regionals. Preliminary first round of the 2018 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship will either begin on Thursday or Friday, November 8 or 9 at campus sites. The remaining teams will await their postseason fate. Selections for the 2018 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship will be announced at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday, November 5 via web stream on NCAA.com.
SAC All-Tournament Team
Ignacio de Goya, Lenoir-Rhyne
Goncarlo Garcia, Lenoir-Rhyne
Samuel Jenkins, Carson-Newman
Tobias Solem Karlsen, Carson-Newman
Harry Ward, Anderson
Colin Burris, Anderson
Birkir Petursson, Anderson
Mathias Grimstad, Tusculum
Fabian Proesch, Tusculum
Edgar Cervantes, Tusculum
Jonny Winter, Tusculum (MVP)
-#MakeSACYours-