HARROGATE, Tenn. --- Third-seeded Lincoln Memorial scored the equalizer with just 1.1 seconds remaining in regulation and completed the rally winning the penalty kick shootout to advance past No. 6 seed Tusculum and move on in the South Atlantic Conference Men's Soccer Tournament.
The Railsplitters (10-3-2) advance to Friday's semifinal against No. 2 seed Wingate at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The Pioneers (9-6-2) bid to repeat as SAC Tournament champions ends in the quarterfinal round.
Following a scoreless first half, Tusculum freshman Dominic McLaren gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead in the 61st minute as he knocked home his second goal of the year. Tyler Linkous sent in a cross to the box that found McLaren for the match's first goal.
With TC leading and the clocking running out at the end of regulation, LMU's Pedro Villa got off a shot from the left wing which was punched away by TC keeper Jorge Alvarez. But the rebound went straight to Nick Spielman as he deposited the ball into the right side of the goal to snatch victory out of the Pioneers' grasp and send the match into overtime.
Following two scoreless overtime periods the match ended in a draw, sending the contest to a penalty kick shootout to see who would advance.
Both teams scored on their first two shootout efforts, including TC goals from Linkous and Guillermo Lazcano. LMU's Danilo da Silva gave the Railsplitters a 3-2 lead, while McLaren PK shot was stopped by LMU keeper Pedro Ozi giving the home team the advantage after three rounds. LMU would connect on its final two shots, including Villa's PK clincher.
Lincoln Memorial out-shot Tusculum by a 27-17 margin, including 8-2 in the two overtime periods.
Ozi finished the match with a pair of saves, while Alvarez accounted for seven stops, including five in the second half.
Tusculum ends its season, while Pioneer seniors Guillem Giro, Cody Kammerzell, Conor McKenna and Pablo Laguna wrap up their respective collegiate careers.
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