GAFFNEY, S.C. --- Tristyn de Laaf scored two goals, including the tiebreaking goal with just under 20 minutes remaining, as ninth-ranked Limestone University defeated Tusculum University 3-2 in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer action Wednesday night.
The Saints (9-1-0, 7-0-0 SAC) led 2-0 in the first half, but the Pioneers (1-8-1, 0-6-1 SAC) chipped away and tied the match on goals by Damien Baltide and Ignacio Alconchel. However, de Laaf scored the winning goal on the rebound of a missed penalty kick to keep Limestone in sole possession of first place in the conference.
Limestone had a 12-5 advantage in shots over Tusculum, but just a 5-3 edge in shots on goal. Alexander Render also scored for the Saints, whose two goals conceded matched their total allowed through their first six conference matches.
Limestone had the first shot attempt of the match in the third minute, but Antonio Ferreira missed just high of the Tusculum goal on a clean look from 15 yards. Tusculum's first shot came in the seventh minute, as Pedro Concheso came down the middle and fired from 20 yards into the arms of Limestone keeper Johann Hipper. The Saints nearly had a scoring opportunity in the 15th minute, but Pioneer keeper Rayane El Mehdi came off his line to clear a bouncing ball just before the Saints' Ferreira was able to reach it.
The Saints took a 1-0 lead at 18:43 as a free kick from the far right sideline by Jacob Hancock was headed home by Render for his second goal of the season.
After a stalemate in the midfield for several minutes, the Pioneers had a good chance in the 29th minute as Levi Vasconcelos slotted a pass to a cutting Concheso, but his angle was too sharp and his shot his the outside of the net at the near post.
Limestone extended its lead to 2-0 at 34:50 as a pass was chipped by Florian Fromholzer to de Laaf near the goal line, and his shot from a sharp angle lofted over El Mehdi into the goal for the third goal of the season for de Laaf.
The Pioneers needed less than 30 seconds to respond to the two-goal deficit, as a miscommunication on the Limestone defense sent a loose ball rolling toward the open goal. Baltide easily deposited the shot for his second goal in as many matches which cut the Limestone lead to 2-1 at 35:17.
Tusculum tied the match at 2-2 at 48:51 as Concheso broke free down the right side, and crossed between two defenders to Alconchel, who knocked home his team-high seventh goal of the season to level the score.
Limestone had a good chance in the 57th minute as the Saints benefitted from a foul called after a shot went high of the target. Hancock took the free kick from just outside the top of the box, but the Pioneer wall was able to knock down the shot attempt. In the 64th minute, de Laaf was loose in front for a header which was stopped by El Mehdi.
With just over 20 minutes to go, Limestone's Mark Radoki tried to loft a shot over El Mehdi from 15 yards but was fouled hard after the kick. A penalty kick was awarded to the Saints and de Laaf stepped up to take the shot, but El Mehdi stopped the try on a dive. However, de Laaf followed up and deposited the rebound for his second of the match and a 3-2 Saints lead with 19:53 remaining.
Trailing by a goal, Alconchel had a look for the equalizer in the 75th minute but shot just wide of the left post from the top of the box on what would be Tusculum's last shot attempt of the match. Limestone had just one shot after de Laaf's second goal, as Radoki shot wide with 2:18 to play.
El Mehdi finished with two saves in goal for the Pioneers, while Hipper had one save for the Saints. Limestone was flagged six times for offsides, while Tusculum was called for 11 fouls to five for the Saints.
Tusculum will return home to face Lenoir-Rhyne on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at Pioneer Field.
