GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Limestone College overcame a 1-0 deficit with three unanswered goals to earn a 3-1 victory over Tusculum College in non-conference men's soccer action Wednesday night at Pioneer Field.
The Saints (3-2-0) trailed the Pioneers (0-5-0) 1-0 after 11 minutes, but scored twice in the final nine minutes to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. Limestone added a goal with just under 10 minutes remaining to pick up their second straight victory.
"I thought we played a confident first half, but they scored a couple of counterattack goals where we just didn't balance," said Pioneer head coach Allen Vital. "We were just a step behind most of the time with the pressure, but I think (Limestone) adjusted at halftime and made things difficult for us. There has to be more fight in us, but we have to keep our heads up and believe."
Tusculum grabbed a 1-0 lead at 11:19 when Javier Portillo netted his second goal of the season by redirecting a pass from Drayson Davenport past Limestone keeper H.B. Lockwood.
The Saints tied the score at 36:42 as Jack Bailey tallied his third goal of the year off a cross by Jorge MacKenna, then at 40:10 Limestone gained a 2-1 lead when Daniel Mohsen headed home a perfect cross by Bailey for his first goal of the season.
Limestone carried the 2-1 lead into halftime, finishing with a 10-5 edge in shots and a 2-0 advantage in corner kicks.
In the second half, the Saints controlled the attack with an 11-1 advantage in shots. Limestone cashed in with an insurance goal with 9:30 to go as Thomas Keen netted his second of the year off a feed from Marvin Hudson.
Overall, Limestone finished with a 21-6 shot advantage and took six corner kicks to three by Tusculum. The Pioneers were called for 11 fouls to 10 by the Saints, and were shown a pair of cautions.
Andy Goellner finished with five saves in goal for the Pioneers, while Lockwood tallied three stops for the Saints.
Tusculum will be back in action on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. with a non-conference match at Young Harris.
- TC -
