GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Ninety minutes were not enough to break a 0-0 deadlock between Tusculum University and Catawba College in a South Atlantic Conference men's soccer match Saturday night at Pioneer Field.
The Pioneers (0-5-2, 0-3-1 SAC) finished with an 18-8 edge in shot attempts and a 9-3 advantage in shots on goal against the Indians (6-1-1, 3-0-1 SAC), but could not convert several outstanding scoring opportunities before turning its focus to defense after having to play the final 4 1/2 minutes a man down.
Catawba keeper Zak Stiffler made eight saves for his third straight shutout, while Tusculum's Bruno De Freitas recorded his second career clean sheet by making three saves.
The Indians had the first shot attempt in the sixth minute on a bicycle kick by Alejo Bzurovski that went over the crossbar. Tusculum's first shot attempt was in the ninth minute when Pedro Concheso rifled a shot over the crossbar from 20 yards out.
Tusculum had the first shot on goal in the 19th minute, when Cristobal Morales sent a one-hopper to Stiffler from 30 yards away. Four minutes later, Concheso headed a cross on target but Stiffler grabbed the shot attempt. The Pioneers kept up the pressure as Xavi Sandoica put a shot on goal from 20 yards in the 30th minute and Damien Baltide just missed a header wide of the goal from inside 10 yards.
De Freitas would be tested with just over five minutes to go in the half, as a free kick was crossed to Catawba's Bautista Vecchi-Ramello, but his one-timer was pulled in for the save as the match went to intermission scoreless. Tusculum outshot Catawba 8-4 in the first half and 3-1 in shots on goal.
Tusculum continued to swarm for the first goal of the evening as the second half began, with Adam O'Sullivan volleying a shot on Stiffler in the 52nd minute and Gui Busato shooting high two minutes later. In the 58th minute, Luis De La Fuente had the best opportunity to that point as his chip attempt was knocked over the crossbar by a leaping Stiffler.
Catawba had a free kick from 25 yards in the 67th minute after De Freitas was carded for a hard tackle while pursuing a loose ball, but the attempt by the Indians' Simone Trentin was deflected and gathered by De Freitas.
Lucas Romeiro nearly broke the stalemate in the 68th minute as he was able to put a header behind Stiffler, but Vecchi-Ramello cleared the ball off the line for the Indians. In the 72nd minute, Morales delivered a blast from the top of the box that Stiffler lunged to knock away.
After De Freitas knocked away a shot from 30 yards out by Catawba's Jaime Serrano in the 82nd minute, Tusculum had the best chance of the night with just over five minutes to go. Morales took a shot from the top of the box that was bobbled by Stiffler, allowing De La Fuente a chance at the rebound which bounced off Stiffler into the air and off the crossbar.
The Pioneers went a man down with 4:28 left after it was ruled that the defense denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity for the Indians two steps from the 18. The free kick was taken by the Indians' Joseph Allerton, but was blocked by the Tusculum wall and the follow-up from Ethan Richards was well wide of target. The shorthanded Pioneers were able to run down the clock primarily in the offensive end to preserve the draw.
A total of 10 cards were issued in the match, nine in the final 35 minutes, and Tusculum had a 19-10 edge in fouls. Catawba had a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks in the match, while the Indians were flagged four times for offsides to three by the Pioneers.
Tusculum will head to Lincoln Memorial for a conference match on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 3:30 p.m. The Railsplitters (3-4-1, 1-2-0 SAC) fell 1-0 at Newberry on Saturday and are 2-3-1 at home this season.
