GAFFNEY, S.C. --- Tusculum University salvaged a 0-0 draw with Limestone University Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action.
The Pioneers (6-3-3, 1-3-3 SAC) were outshot 16-1 by the Saints (8-2-1, 5-2-1 SAC), but Tusculum keeper Grayson Patterson made a career-high 11 saves to preserve the deadlock. Patterson had eight saves in the first half and three more in the second to surpass her previous high of eight saves, which she did three times this season.
The draw did extend Tusculum's unbeaten streak to four matches (2-0-2) and was the fourth shutout of the season for Patterson. The Pioneers' last 0-0 draw came on September 2, 2018 against Palm Beach Atlantic, and Tusculum's last scoreless tie in conference play was on October 30, 2015 against Wingate.
Limestone started the offense early against Tusculum, as Ashton Brooks collected a through ball at the top of the box and fired a shot that was grabbed by Patterson just two minutes into the match.
Patterson added a save on a one-hopper by Andrea Zwinkels in the 12th minute and again on Zwinkels on a chip attempt from the top of the box in the 15th minute. She would add to her total with saves on Tabea Schutt in the 17th minute and Brooks again in the 18th minute.
In the 30th minute, Brooks turned and took a shot from a sharp angle that Patterson directed away, and Brooks would add her fourth shot on goal in the 32nd minute on an attempt that saw Patterson come off her line and then retreat to grab a bouncing attempt. Schutt would have the final shot with just over a minute left in the half, which sent Patterson to her knees for her eighth save of the day.
Tusculum's only shot attempt of the match came in the 52nd minute, when Rosy Wodhams' attempt from 25 yards away was smothered by a Limestone defender.
Brooks would send a shot just wide of the goal in the 65th minute, and a try from Schutt in the 69th minute would go just wide of the far post. The Saints kept up the pressure in the final 20 minutes, with two chances from distance by Emily Bozard being grabbed by Patterson.
The final strong scoring chance came off the foot of Schutt with 8 1/2 minutes left, as her attempt from the right side was kicked out by Patterson. The Saints would earn three corner kicks in the final eight minutes but were unable to convert.
Limestone had a 6-1 edge in corner kicks over Tusculum, while the Saints were called for 14 fouls to 10 by the Pioneers. Limestone keeper Samantha Aguilar-Hopkins did not make a save in her seventh shutout of the season.
Tusculum will travel to Emory & Henry on Wednesday, Oct. 12 for their first-ever SAC match with the Wasps. Emory & Henry has lost five consecutive matches and is 2-8-0 overall with an 0-7-0 mark in league play.
