GAFFNEY, S.C. – Despite holding a 16-5 edge in shots taken and a 9-2 margin in corners, the nationally 15^th-ranked Limestone University men's soccer team was shut out for a third time over its last four matches as Catawba College eliminated the Saints, 1-0, in the South Atlantic Conference Quarterfinals.  
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Catawba 1, No. 15 Limestone 0
Records: Catawba (10-6-2), No. 15 Limestone (10-4-1)
Location: Saints Field
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Senior forward Tristyn de Laaf (Dubai, UAE) led the Saints with six shots, including three on goal
• Freshman defender Stefan Roeb (Konigswinter, Germany) added three shot attempts
• Senior forward Angelo Fabricio (Jundiai, Brazil) finished with a pair of shots and one on frame
• Freshman defender Alexander Render (Chesterfield, England) also tallied two shot attempts
• Junior midfielder Antonio Ferreira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) chipped in a shot on goal
• Sophomore midfielder Jacob Hancock (Manchester, England) put a shot on frame
• Sophomore forward Mark Radoki (Biberbach, Germany) placed one shot on goal
• Sophomore keeper Johann Hipper (Munich, Germany) recorded a save in a losing effort
• Limestone put eight shots on goal while the Indians scored a goal on two shots on frame

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Half
 
Limestone came out of the gates aggressively, registering five shot attempts over the first 11 minutes of play. However, a pair of shots on goal by de Laaf and one on frame by Hancock were all turned away in the early going before seventh-seeded Catawba scored the game-winner on its first attempt of the day.
 
The Indians tried to extend the lead in the 22^nd minute, but Hipper was there to make the save in what would prove to be Catawba's final shot on goal. The Saints only recorded one more shot during the rest of the opening half, an attempt by de Laaf was blocked in the 37^th minute, as they trailed 1-0 at the break.
 
Second Half
 
A header by Render a few ticks into the second half sailed wide of the mark before Fabricio had an attempt off a corner hauled in by the keeper. Limestone peppered the Catawba goal with three shots in a three-minute span, but the Indians again withstood the offensive barrage as they maintained a 1-0 edge.
 
Roeb and de Laaf were both off target in the 65^th and 68^th minutes before a shot on frame by Render a few seconds later was pulled in by the keeper. Ferreira then had a look at the equalizer in the 72^nd minute, but the Saints could not break through as Catawba advanced to the conference semifinals, 1-0.   
 
TURNING POINT
 
Limestone came out as the aggressors in the early going, taking the fight to the Catawba defense, but was unable to get anything across. The Indians scored the only goal they would need on their first shot attempt in the 16^th minute and then held the Saints off the board the rest of the way for the clean sheet.
 
NOTABLES
 

• Limestone won 9 of its first 10 games, but has struggled over the last four weeks of the season
• The Saints have gone just 1-3-1 and have been shut out three times during that stretch
• Catawba avenged a 2-1 overtime loss to Limestone during the regular season
• Saturday's quarterfinal matchup was Catawba's first ever trip to Gaffney

 
UP NEXT
 
The Saints, who checked in at No. 5 in the last NCAA Super Region 2 rankings, will now have to wait and see if their early season body of work will be good enough to get an invite to the NCAA Tournament. The national championship field will be announced on Monday, November 15, at 6:30 p.m. on NCAA.com