GAFFNEY, S.C. – Playing its first match since the 2019 NCAA Tournament, a span that stretched 453 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Limestone University men's soccer team opened an unusual spring campaign with a scoreless draw against Carson-Newman University on Friday at Saints Field.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Limestone 0, Carson-Newman 0
Records: Limestone (0-0-1), Carson-Newman (1-0-1)
Location: Saints Field
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Senior midfielder Tristyn de Laaf (Dubai, UAE) led the Saints with three shot attempts
• Freshman midfielder Pascal Werba (Schorndorf, Germany) added a pair of shots
• Werba and de Laaf both place a shot on goal – two of Limestone's three attempts on goal
• Graduate midfielder Jarno Peeters (Leunen, The Netherlands) chipped in a shot on frame
• Sophomore midfielder Alex Pais Caamano (La Coruna, Spain) finished with two shots
• Freshman keeper Nicolas Warner (Raleigh, N.C.) collected a shutout in his first career start
• The Eagles edged Limestone 12-10 in shots, but the Saints held a 3-2 margin in shots on goal
• Carson-Newman dominated on corner kick opportunities, finishing with an 8-0 advantage
• Since only pod matches count for playoff consideration, the teams elected to not play overtime

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Half
 
Both clubs had decent looks at the frame over the first 10 minutes of play, but the Eagles were high on their first attempt of the afternoon before de Laaf was wide left on Limestone's first shot in the seventh minute. The contest remained scoreless in the early going as both teams then had a free kick blocked.
 
The Saints had their best scoring opportunity denied midway through the first half when Carson-Newman's keeper made a tremendous save on a laser from Peeters in the 26^th minute. The Eagles would flip the field to get their best look of the period, but Warner also come up with a huge save for Limestone.
 
Second Half
 
After giving up a pair of shots, including one on goal, early in the second half, Limestone had three opportunities to break the deadlock between the 61^st and 65^th minutes. However, Caamano had an attempt miss left of the frame before he and de Laaf had back-to-back shots blocked by the defense.
 
In the 78^th minute, the Blue and Gold had a decent attack working but a close-range attempt by freshman Thomas Mueller (Fuerth, Germany) was blocked. A few ticks later, de Laaf drove in from the left wing and put a shot on the frame, but the Carson-Neman defense again held up as the match remained scoreless.
 
Limestone had two great scoring chances slip by in the closing minutes of regulation as a perfect cross in front of the net from the far wing by de Laaf was whiffed on by the offense. Then a last-minute attempt at the winning score by Werba was turned away by the keeper in the 89^th minute to seal the goalless draw.   
 
TURNING POINT
 
The Eagles controlled the tempo in the opening half, getting off eight shot attempts, but they would only put one shot on goal in 45 minutes of play. Limestone then had some great chances in the second half, firing a pair of shots on frame down the stretch, but neither would find its mark as things ended in a draw.
 
NOTABLES
 

• Carson-Newman doubled up Limestone, 8-4, in shots attempts in the first half
• The Saints finished with a 6-4 advantage over the final 45 minutes of regulation
• The Eagles made their first ever regular season trip to Gaffney
• It was only the second time the two programs have met in the regular season
• Carson-Newman and Limestone have met twice in the NCAA Tournament
• Today's contest was considered a nonconference match since both teams play in different pods

 
UP NEXT
 
Limestone will begin pod play next week when it travels to take on Newberry College on Thursday, February 25, in its first official South Atlantic Conference match. Start time is set for 7 p.m.