GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Alexis Abalam scored with 2:24 left in the second half as Coker University rallied for a 3-2 victory over Tusculum University in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
Abalam's goal came 18 minutes after Myles Jackson scored the equalizer for the Cobras (2-3-7, 2-3-3 SAC), who appeared to be headed to their fifth draw in their last eight matches before the late heroics from Abalam and Jackson.
Mason Clark scored two goals for the Pioneers (4-7-1, 2-5-1 SAC), who lost an opportunity to remain ahead of the Cobras in the standings while continuing to keep a hold on one of the final postseason spots in the SAC standings. The Pioneers have two regular-season conference matches remaining, at Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday, Nov. 1 and at Carson-Newman on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Clark opened the scoring at 11:07 as he took advantage of a misplay in the back end by Coker to step through and beat Cobras keeper Ismael Caria for his fourth goal of the season and third straight match with a goal.
The lead lasted just over four minutes before the Cobras tied the score when Christian Johnson flicked his fourth goal of the season past Tusculum keeper Noe Delmotte at 15:26. Delmotte sustained a cut to his chin on the contact and was forced to the bench for the remainder of the half. Donovan Cobb made his season debut in Delmotte's place and had one save in the final 29:34 of the first half before Delmotte returned for the season half.
Tusculum took a 2-1 lead early in the second half as a pass from Devin Vital to Hugo Le Floch was sent across to Clark, who hit a one-timer past Caria for his first career two-goal match at 48:05.
The Pioneers' defense kept the Cobras without a shot attempt from Clark's goal until Jackson headed a loose ball past Delmotte for his first goal of the season and a 2-2 deadlock at 69:34.
Coker would go up 2-1 at 87:36 as substitute Adrian Adrian came on and made a perfect service pass to Abalam, who headed his fifth of the season past Delmotte with just 2:24 to play. Tusculum's last chance came with exactly one minute to go, but a close shot from Enoch Brako went wide of the near post.
Coker outshot Tusculum 10-9 in the match, with all three keepers who appeared (Caria, Delmotte and Cobb) making one save apiece. The Cobras had an 8-3 edge in corner kicks, while Tusculum was called for 20 fouls to 18 for Coker. Despite the 38 total fouls, just one card was shown in the contest.
The Pioneers will finish their home schedule on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. in a non-conference match with Lees-McRae. The Bobcats (3-4-7) fell 2-1 at Southern Wesleyan on Saturday to drop to 0-4-4 on the road this season.
