BRISTOL, Tenn. – Two Tusculum goals in a 32-second span proved too difficult to overcome as the King men's soccer team dropped its home opener by a final score of 3-0.

The key sequence for the Pioneers (1-0) spanned both halves. On what proved to be the final play of the first half, Tusculum's Mark Patterson headed a shot into the net off a corner kick. Twenty-three seconds into the second half, Cody Kammerzell played a perfect through ball into the box for Robert Pimentel, who finished from ten yards out to extend the Pioneers' lead.

King's best chance for a goal came in the 59th minute of play. The Tornado lined up for a free kick ten yards outside the penalty area on the right side of the field. Eli Carrasco played the ball into the box, and Pete Griffith's header hit the right post and bounced away. After a scrum, Kendale Liburd fired a shot that was saved by the Tusculum goalkeeper. King was unable to produce any solid chances for the rest of the match, and the Pioneers' lead was extended to 3-0 on an 86th minute penalty kick.

"Today's performance was not up to the standards of what King soccer has been about for the last 50 years," said head coach John Miglarese. "The lack of fight and spirit we showed in the second half is unacceptable. The alumni and fans deserve better. The coaching staff will continue to push this group to improve as we are capable of so much more than we showed today."

The Tornado will travel to face Brevard on Saturday afternoon. The Conference Carolinas schedule opens with a match against Pfeiffer on Saturday, September 21 in Bristol.

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