Second Half Surge Leads Catawba Over Tusculum In SAC Quarterfinals

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Catawba survived an early upset bid from Tusculum and claimed a 4-1 victory over the Pioneers in an opening round match of the South Atlantic Conference Women's Soccer Tournament on Saturday night at the Frock Soccer Complex. The second-seeded Catawba Indians, ranked 12th in NCAA II, move to 15-2-2 on the season. Tusculum ends its season at 9-4-5.

The Pioneers struck early. Taylor Yoemans collected a pass from Bailey Bylotas at the top of the box and from the center fired back to the left just inside the post for the opening goal. The tally came in the fifth minute.

Catawba would equalize four minutes from the break. Sydney Jimmo curled a shot from the left into the upper right corner that glanced off the post. Lejla Mehmedovic assisted on the tying goal.

Catawba was relentless in the second half. The ladies out-shot Tusculum 16-3 and earned nine corners to none for the Pioneers. The Lady Indians took the lead in the 64th minute off a corner as Kelly Havens bodied home a corner kick to the back post from Lillie Rusher.

Pioneer keeper Grayson Patterson kept Tusculum within a goal over the next 10 minutes with several stellar saves. Catawba would get its two-goal edge in the 75th minute. Helen Summerell played a ball up from the back that put Callie Hammond in a race with Patterson to the ball. Hammond won and flicked the ball past the Pioneer goalie and tucked a shot into an empty net.

Hannah Dunn capped the scoring as she put the game away from close range after a pass from Sharon Mayes in the 83rd minute. Catawba finished with 27-7 edge in shots and took 15 corners to just a pair for the Pioneers.

Patterson finished with eight saves for Tusculum. Sierra Davis stopped one shot for Catawba.

Next up for Catawba will be a semifinal matchup with sixth-seeded Wingate, who topped Carson-Newman 3-1 in its opening match. The teams will meet on Friday at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.