JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - The Newberry College women's soccer team staged a dramatic late-game comeback bid in its NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament first round match Friday evening, but Tusculum held off the scarlet and gray, advancing with a 2-1 win.

Newberry (13-5-2) ends its season tying a program-high win total with 13 and making its first NCAA Tournament appearance. The scarlet and gray outshot Tusculum (15-4-3) in the loss by a 15 to 14 advantage and had the edge in shots on goal, 10 to six.

Ashley Reetz (Summerville, S.C.) led Newberry with six shots and three shots on goal. Amberly Fowler (Greenville, S.C.) and Jesse Langdon (Raleigh, N.C.) each had two shots on goal.

Tusculum scored first, 30 minutes into the match. Taking a shot from 35 yards away, Michelle Meade sent in a long, high ball that curled just under the crossbar to give Tusculum a 1-0 lead that the Pioneers would carry into the halftime break.

Newberry charged out of the gate looking for a quick goal, but the match settled down as each team tested the other's defense.

Newberry found an early scoring opportunity in the match's 15th minute when Amberly Fowler (Greenville, S.C.) got loose in front of the penalty area and took a hard, low shot that Tusculum goalkeeper Marjaana Kaaresvirta was able to keep out of the net.

Freshmen Laura Mottel (North Augusta, S.C.) and Ashley Reetz each recorded a shot on goal in the first half for the scarlet and gray.

The second half would feature more offensive action than the first. Tusculum took advantage of a Katie Sas (Columbia, S.C.) yellow card in the 70th minute, scoring off of a set piece in front of the penalty area. Michelle Meade passed in front of the net to a speeding Courtney Turner, who found the back of the net to give Tusculum a 2-0 advantage.

The goal spurred Newberry into action. Just over one minute later, Amberly Fowler sent in a 30-yard shot from in front of the goal and pulled Newberry to within one, 2-1.

The scarlet and gray's best chance to pull even with Pioneers would come in the 86th minute. Ashley Reetz, taking a free kick, launched a shot from the top of the penalty area that Marjaana Kaaresvirta punched off of the post. Jesse Langdon headed the bouncing rebound towards the net but Kaaresvirta made another save and kept Tusculum ahead, a lead they would hold to win the game, 2-1.

Newberry goalkeeper Emily Rhoades (Buckley, Wash.) made four saves in the effort. She ends her season with a 13-5-2 record. Her 0.70 goals against average for the season now stands as the best in Newberry single-season history, as does as her nine shutouts.

Tusculum will face Carson-Newman in the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament second round on Sunday, November 15. Kickoff in Jefferson City, Tenn. is scheduled for 1 p.m.