BELMONT, N.C. – The Belmont Abbey men's soccer team wrapped up its extended homestand to open the season with a match against Tusculum Wednesday evening at Alumni Field.
 
Zion Duncan tallied his first goal of the season for the Crusaders but it was the Pioneers who came away with the 3-1 victory.
 
The two teams were even at 1-1 at the half before the Pioneers scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to put the match away.
 
Belmont Abbey is now 2-2-1 overall on the season while Tusculum Is now 4-1.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Belmont Abbey came out on the attack early with three shots in the first 15 minutes of play.
• The Pioneers got on the board first with a Mo Bouta goal in the 39th minute.
• The Crusaders showed resiliency just over two minutes later as Duncan took advantage of a loose ball to pull The Abbey back even before halftime.
• Tusculum captured the lead for good with just over seven minutes remaining in the match off a Cristobal Morales goal.
• Carlos Perez capped the scoring for the Pioneers with a goal with 35 seconds left in the match.
• Trent McConnaughey made his first start in goal for the Crusaders and made two saves in his Belmont Abbey debut.
• The Crusaders took 11 shots for the match, three on goal. It is the third time this season that The Abbey has reached double figures in shots this year.
• Pa Njie made his first start of the season for the Crusaders.

 
UP NEXT

• The Crusaders venture back into Conference Carolinas play with a match at Converse at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
• Saturday's contest will mark the first of six Northwest Division games for The Abbey.