GAFFNEY, S.C. – Graduate defender Sebastian Marx (Erlangen, Germany) scored the game-winner in the 20^th minute and then helped the defense maintain a clean sheet as the Limestone University men's soccer team earned its first South Atlantic Conference win with a 1-0 decision over Newberry College.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Limestone 1, Newberry 0
Records: Limestone (1-1-1, 1-1), Newberry (0-4, 0-3)
Location: Saints Field
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Marx tallied his third career game-winning goal behind two shots on frame
• Sophomore Alex Pais Caamano (La Coruna, Spain) posted a game-high five shots
• Freshman midfielder Pascal Werba (Schorndorf, Germany) added a pair of shots
• Senior Tristyn de Laaf (Dubai, UAE) placed two shots on goal in just 10 minutes of action
• Junior keeper Austin Gunnels (Clover, S.C.) recorded four saves to go with his clean sheet
• Limestone peppered the Newberry keeper, forcing him to make 11 saves on the night
• The Saints outpaced the Wolves 17-5 in shots attempted and 8-1 in corner kicks

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Half
 
Newberry took the first shot of the evening in the seventh minute, but the Saints got some great looks at goal early in the first half. Sophomore Josiah Ortiz (Buford, Ga.) laced a shot on frame in the 17^th minute before Caamano followed with consecutive shots, the latter setting up a corner kick for the Blue and Gold.
 
The ball was served into the box following the short corner and was initially punched away by Newberry keeper Jacob Williams, but Marx was in perfect position to clean up the loose ball for Limestone's first goal of the year. The Wolves had a chance at the equalizer late in the half, but Gunnells came up with a tremendous save in a one-on-one situation as the score held true at the break with the Saints leading 1-0.
 
Second Half
 
Gunnells made another great stop a few moments into the second half before the Limestone offense started to take control with six unanswered attempts. Caamano put a pair of shots on frame over the next 12 minutes while Marx placed another one on cage. Junior Angelo Fabricio (Jundiai, Brazil) and graduate Andres Cabranes (Gijon, Spain) each tallied an attempt on goal during the offensive surge for the Saints.
 
However, Williams continued to make save after save for Newberry, keeping the visitors in the contest as the match moved into the late stages. The Limestone defense would not yield the tying goal though as Gunnels made another save in the 71^st minute as the Blue and Gold locked down its first SAC win, 1-0.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Although Limestone did not record its first shot of the night until the 17^th minute of play, the Blue and Gold took firm control of the match on both sides of the field. The Saints scored the game-winner in the 20^th minute and kept up the offensive pressure the rest of the way while the defense kept the sheet clean.
 
NOTABLES
 

• Limestone scored its first goal of a shortened 2021 spring season
• The Saints have two shutouts over the first three matches
• Limestone and Newberry met on the pitch for the first time since the 2013 campaign
• The Blue and Gold have now won five straight against the Wolves dating back to 2007
• Limestone evened up the all-time series with Newberry at 7-all
• Head Coach Eric Alsop recorded his 198^th career win at the helm of the Saints

 
UP NEXT
 
After missing close to three weeks due to COVID-19 protocols, the Saints will finish the spring season with a flurry of matches over the next two weeks. Limestone will play three straight road matches within an eight-day span, staring with a trip to take on Queens University of Charlotte on Monday, March 22.