ROCK HILL, S.C. – The #5-seed Tusculum College Men’s Soccer Team (9-6-2) scored the match-winning goal on a penalty kick with just 5:39 remaining in the match as the Pioneers defeated top-seeded Carson-Newman College (13-4-1) by a 2-1 score Friday afternoon in the Semifinals of the 2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament.

With the victory, Tusculum avenges a 2-1 regular season loss to C-N and snaps the Eagles’ nine-match win streak.

Tusculum recorded the first goal of the match, scoring in the 17th minute as Anteneh Lemma (Stockholm, SWEDEN) took a pass from Nick Rich (Kent, ENGLAND) and placed it in the net for the 1-0 lead.

The score would remain the same for the rest of the half.

Down to just 10 men after sophomore forward Robert Hill (Middlesbrough, ENGLAND) was sent off in the 74th minute, Carson-Newman tallied the equalizer with 10 minutes to play. Freshman midfielder Daniel Zitt (Morristown, Tenn.) headed junior defender Matt Finlay’s (Liverpool, ENGLAND) free kick into the far corner to make the score 1-1.

Lemma struck again for the Pioneers four minutes later (84:21) with what would prove to be the match-winner. After the Eagles were called for a foul inside the penalty area, Lemma converted the penalty kick for his 10th goal of the year and a 2-1 lead in the match.

TC goalkeeper Lance Moore (Morristown, Tenn.) picked up the win stopping three shots while C-N junior Jordan Moore (Hendersonville, Tenn.) tallied five saves despite the loss.

Tusculum advances to the SAC Tournament Finals and will face Mars Hill College, which defeated Wingate University by a 4-1 score Friday afternoon as well. Kickoff for the championship match is set for 1:00 p.m. Sunday at Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex.