BELMONT, N.C. --- A four-goal outburst in the first 26 minutes was the difference as Tusculum College defeated Belmont-Abbey College 4-0 in a non-conference Women's soccer match Saturday afternoon.

Tramicka James and Taylor Lewis continued their red-hot offensive production with a goal apiece for the Pioneers (8-1-1), who have won four straight matches by shutout and are unbeaten in their last eight contests (seven wins, one tie).

James finished with a goal and an assist and has recorded three goals and six assists over the last four matches, while Lewis scored for the fourth straight match for the Pioneers. Courtney Hackney also scored for the Pioneers, who tallied their other goal when the Crusaders (3-6-0) accidentally headed a ball into their own goal.

The Pioneers finished with a 15-6 advantage in shots over the Crusaders, including a 9-4 margin during the first-half outburst. Tusculum also held a 6-4 edge in corner kicks over Belmont Abbey in the match.

James struck just 3:27 into the match with her eighth goal of the season, beating Belmont Abbey keeper Hannah Kohls from the right side. Lewis followed at 9:49 on a shot from the center of the box for a 2-0 Tusculum lead, with assists to James and Jana Linke.

The Pioneers extended their lead to 3-0 just 16 seconds later when the Crusaders accidentally played a ball into their own net. Hackney capped the scoring at 25:19 with her second goal of the season from the center of the box.

Marissa Williams played all 90 minutes in goal for the Pioneers and made five saves to record her fifth solo shutout of the season. Kohls made three saves in the first half before yielding to Megan Bowen, who had two stops in the second half.

Tusculum will be on the road Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Carson-Newman in a South Atlantic Conference match.

- TC -