NEWBERRY, S.C. – Senior Tristyn de Laaf (Dubai, UAE) netted a pair of scores in a three-goal outburst by the Limestone University men's soccer team in the second half and head coach Eric Alsop picked up his 200^th career win at the helm of the Saints with a 4-1 decision at Newberry College on Monday night.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Limestone 4, Newberry 1
Records: Limestone (3-1-1, 3-1), Newberry (1-5-1, 1-4)
Location: Smith Road Complex
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Leading the Saints with four attempts, de Laaf scored twice on three shots on frame
• Freshman Pascal Werba (Schorndorf, Germany) tallied his first career goal
• Junior Angelo Fabricio (Jundiai, Brazil) also finished with the first score of his career
• Junior midfielder Josiah Ortiz (Buford, Ga.) chipped in an assist
• Graduate defender Andres Cabranes (Gijon, Spain) dished out an assist
• Graduate defender Elliot Dymond (Saltash, England) also collected an assist for Limestone
• Junior keeper Clement Anet (Cosse le Vivien, France) posted three saves in his season debut
• Limestone finished with a 14-12 edge in shots attempted and wide 12-5 margin in corner kicks

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Half
 
The Saints did not need a lot of time to break through with the go-ahead score as a foul on Newberry set up a free kick from about 25 yards out on the right wing. Sophomore Alex Pais Caamano (La Coruna, Spain) served the ball to the far post for Dymond who then sent a one-touch header back to the middle.
 
Fabricio was in perfect position to receive the pass and finished the play with his first career goal on a low liner past the keeper, staking Limestone to a quick 1-0 lead just 2:24 into the contest. The Wolves had some decent looks at the equalizer shortly after, but the Limestone defense blocked both shot attempts.
 
The Blue and Gold peppered the keeper on the other end as Caamano and graduate Jarno Peeters (Leunen, The Netherlands) each put a shot on frame before de Laaf placed one on goal in the 24^th minute, but the Wolves held off the barrage as the Saints carried the 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
 
Second Half
 
Limestone and Newberry combined to get five shots off in the opening minutes of the second half before the Saints tallied a pair of scores about a minute apart of each other. In the 60^th minute, Cabranes started the surge with a steal and breakaway down the left wing before finding a wide-open Werba in the middle of the box. Werba brought the ball in before firing a rocket into the back of the netting for a 2-0 advantage.
 
Less than a minute later, the Blue and Gold grabbed a commanding 3-0 lead as Ortiz served a perfect cross in from the right wing to a streaking de Laaf in front of the cage. The Wolves dirtied the clean sheet in the 74^th minute as a free kick ricocheted off several players and inside the far post, but de Laaf beat his defender before then beating the keeper to seal the 4-1 decision with his second goal in the 81^st minute.   
 
TURNING POINT
 
Limestone grabbed control of the match early, scoring the go-ahead goal just 2:24 into play, and then opened a commanding lead in the second half on back-to-back scores within a 62-second span. The Saints put to rest any thoughts of a comeback bid by the Wolves on de Laaf's second goal of the night.
 
NOTABLES
 

• Alsop, who first took over the Limestone program in the 2003 season, posted his 200^th career win
• He is averaging 11 wins per season over his 18-year career with the Saints
• Alsop now holds a career record of 200-108-21 for a career winning percentage of .640
• During his tenure, Limestone has won five conference regular season championships, captured six conference tournament crowns, made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, and the program has reached the Sweet 16 twice (2006 and 2014)
• Limestone has won six straight against Newberry dating back to the 2007 campaign
• After being shut out twice to start the year, the Saints have scored 9 goals in the last three matches – the Blue and Gold has combined for eight goals over the past two outings

 
UP NEXT
 
Limestone will bring the shorted spring regular season to a close when it hosts Queens University of Charlotte at Saints Field on Thursday, April 1 at 8 p.m.