Misenheimer, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Soccer Team (12-4-3) defeated Tusculum (16-4), 3-1, in the opening round of the 2016 NCAA Division II Tournament Thursday night at N.E. Lekfo Field.

With the victory, the Bears advanced to the second round and will face eighth-ranked and second-seeded Pfeiffer (18-2) Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. In the Southeast Regional Tournament, the Bears are seeded sixth while the Pioneers are the third seed.

Three players – junior defender Kevin Nadeau (Morganton, N.C.), junior forward Ismael Noumansana (Reims, FRANCE) and sophomore forward Marc Fernandez (Barcelona, SPAIN) – scored for the Bears in the battle between a pair of South Atlantic Conference schools.

Lenoir-Rhyne also picked up its first NCAA Division II Playoff victory since a 3-2 win over Catawba on November 2, 2006, in Hickory, N.C.

Nadeau opened the scoring at the 16:04 mark of the first half unassisted for the lone score of the first half.

Noumansana tallied his league-leading 17th goal of the season in the 57th minute for a 2-0 advantage for the Bears. Fernandez was credited with the assist on the play.

Holding a 2-1 lead with just 1:09 left, Fernandez iced the match for Lenoir-Rhyne as he scored off a free kick from senior midfielder Mitch Botfield (Walsall, ENGLAND).

Lenoir-Rhyne junior goalkeeper Zach King (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) earned the victory after stopping four shots while Jorge Alvarez (Gijón, SPAIN) suffered the loss in goal for the Pioneers despite making seven saves. Lenoir-Rhyne held a 15-13 advantage in shots taken while Tusculum's Vetle Salte (Bryne, NORWAY) scored in the 78th minute.