HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Hannah Van Eerden had the only goal on Tuesday night – with 14 minutes to play – as third-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne University opened its conference tournament by nipping visiting Tusculum 1-0 in women’s soccer.
VAN EERDEN
The Bears (11-5-1) advance to the South Atlantic Conference semifinals on Friday at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, S.C., where they will face No. 2 Lincoln Memorial at 1:30 p.m.
Lincoln Memorial opened the tournament on Tuesday night with a 2-1 overtime victory over No. 7 Queens.
Tusculum, seeded No. 6, finished 8-7-3.
Van Eerden’s goal, assisted by junior Abigael McGarel came after a scoreless first half at Moretz Stadium.
LRU outshot Tusculum 24-10, and the Bears did not allow the Pioneers a shot on goal.
LRU had seven corner kicks and Tusculum had two.
Tusculum goal keeper Hanna Graham had nine saves.
The goal by Van Eerden was her sixth of the season and first match-winner. She has 14 points this season, second on the team, and McGarel collected her first assist of the year.
LRU is 4-4 in home matches this season.
SAC WOMEN’S SOCCER TOURNAMENT
Tuesday’s first round matches
Match 1: No. 1 Carson-Newman 4, No. 8 Wingate 0
Match 2: No. 5 Catawba 1, No. 4 Anderson, S.C. 0
Match 3: No. 2 Lincoln Memorial 2, No. 7 Queens 1, OT
Match 4: No. 3 LENOIR-RHYNE 1, No. 6 Tusculum 0
Friday’s semifinals at Rock Hill, S.C.
Match 5: No. 1 Carson-Newman vs. No. 5 Catawba, 11 a.m.
Match 6: No. 2 Lincoln Memorial vs. No. 3 LENOIR-RHYNE, 1:30 p.m.
Sunday’s championship at Rock Hill, S.C.
Match 7: Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.