GREENWOOD, S.C. – Leading 2-0 with 15 minutes left in regulation, No. 17 Limestone College appeared to be headed for the second round of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament for a sixth straight year until sixth-seeded Anderson University used a furious rally to pull off a shocking 3-2 extra time decision on Friday, November 9 at Van Taylor Stadium.  
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Anderson (S.C.) 3, No. 17 Limestone 2
Records: Anderson (S.C.) (11-5-3), No. 17 Limestone (13-4-1)
Location: Van Taylor Stadium
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Senior midfielder Kristian Moore-Cowell (Essex, England) tallied a pair of goals
• Graduate midfielder Raphael Bartmann (Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany) added two assists
• Senior defender Nacho Reigada (Oviedo, Spain) chipped in an assist
• Junior forward Ruairi Croskery (Castlewellan, Northern Ireland) registered two shot attempts
• Senior keeper Mirko Ronchi (Cornaredo, Italy) posted six saves
• The Trojans finished with a 17-12 advantage in shots, including a 10-5 margin after intermission
• Anderson recorded a 5-2 edge in corner kicks – all five corners came in the second half

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Half
 
The Saints nearly broke through with an early go-ahead score in the 11^th minute when sophomore midfielder Tristyn de Laaf (Dubai, UAE) worked his way into the left side of the box. His shot was just wide of the mark, but Limestone would find the back of the net a few moments later.
 
After an Anderson defender slipped on the wet pitch, Bartmann drove the ball in from the right wing before sending a short pass to Moore-Cowell at the top of the 18-yard box. The senior finished with a solid boot right down the middle of the pipes to stake the Blue and Gold to a 1-0 lead in the 15^th minute.
 
Following a tremendous save by Ronchi to preserve the margin midway through the opening half, the Saints added to their tally in the 29^th minute. A header by Reigada off a cross from Bartmann bounced hard off the crossbar, but Moore-Cowell was there to clean up the rebound for his second goal of the half.
 
Second Half
 
The Trojans turned up the offensive pressure in the second half before capitalizing in the 76^th minute on a goal by Lars Kaula to cut the margin in half, 2-1. Sophomore midfielder Ivan Tapuskovic (Beograd, Serbia) had a nice look an insurance score on the restart, but his shot was punched over the crossbar.
 
With less than two and a half minutes to play, Anderson struck again as a header off a corner kick was ruled across the line despite Ronchi holding onto the ball. Limestone had a look at the potential winner in the 90^th minute, but an attempt by senior Adrian Lollar (Snellville, Ga.) was hauled in to force extra time.  
 
Extra Time
 
With the momentum completely on their side, the Trojans pulled off the come-from-behind victory just 97 seconds into the extra time period when Harry Ward made a move down the right wing. He sent a pass to the near post for Cameron Emerson who then deflected the game-winner off a Limestone defender.   
 
TURNING POINT
 
Despite giving up a score in the 76^th minute, Limestone appeared to still have enough in reserve to hold off the late rally by the Trojans. However, Anderson kept up the late pressure and would score the equalizer with 2:12 left in regulation before planting the game-winner just over 90 ticks into extra time.
 
NOTABLES
 

• Limestone had three of its four postseason matches go into extra time this season
• The Saints played a total of six extra matches this year
• Limestone dropped a first-round NCAA Tournament match for the first time in team history
• The Saints have now lost three straight NCAA Tournament matches dating back to 2016
• Senior Mirko Ronchi (Cornaredo, Italy), Dominic Boland (Glasglow, Scotland), Nacho Reigada (Oviedo, Spain), Kristian Moore-Cowell (Essex, England), Roberto Ortega Lopez (Cuenca, Spain), and Adrian Lollar (Snellville, Ga.) played in their final match for the Blue and Gold