GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Limestone University men's soccer team closed out a shortened spring regular season with its fourth consecutive win, shutting out Queens University of Charlotte, 2-0, Thursday night at Saints Field to secure the fifth seed in next week's South Atlantic Conference Championship Tournament.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Limestone 2, Queens (N.C.) 0
Records: Limestone (4-1-1, 4-1), Queens (N.C.) (2-4, 2-4)
Location: Saints Field
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Graduate defender Sebastian Marx (Erlangen, Germany) scored the game-winner
• Freshman midfielder Thomas Mueller (Fuerth, Germany) tallied his first career goal
• Graduate defender Andres Cabranes (Gijon, Spain) dished out an assist
• Sophomore Josiah Ortiz (Buford, Ga.) also finished with an assist for the Saints
• Junior Angelo Fabricio (Jundiai, Brazil) logged five shot attempts, including two on frame
• Sophomore Alex Pais Caamano (La Coruna, Spain) added four shot attempts
• Senior keeper Clement Anet (Cosse le Vivien, France) finished with a clean sheet
• Limestone outshot the Royals, 18-5, and posted a 9-3 edge in corner kicks

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Half
 
The Saints had a few decent opportunities in the early stages as an attempt by freshman Alexander Render (Chesterfield, England) in the 13^th minute was followed by a trio of shots from Fabricio over next couple of minutes. However, the Royals withstood the early onslaught as things remained scoreless.
 
In the 35^th minute, Caamano had one of the better chances to put the Blue and Gold on top in the opening half, but a long-range attempt from the left wing bounced hard off the top of the crossbar. Limestone would find that elusive go-ahead goal in the 40^th minute though, capitalizing on its sixth corner of the half.
 
Cabranes floated a perfectly-place corner to the far post for Marx, who Queens had set up a double team to prevent him from getting to the ball. That strategy did not pan out, however, as Marx found his way to his mark and finished with a header inside the post to put the Saints on top, 1-0, at the halftime break.
 
Second Half
 
Fabricio tried to give Limestone a 2-0 lead in the 56^th minute, but had his attempt blocked, before a shot from point-blank range by Render sailed high over the crossbar in the 61^st minute. A few ticks later, senior Tristyn de Laaf (Dubai, UAE) had a tremendous look at frame fly high as the Saints maintain the 1-0 lead.
 
With less than 10 minutes remaining, the Blue and Gold tacked on an insurance score to make it 2-0 after taking advantage of an unsettled Queens defense. A streaking Ortiz fired a shot from the left side of the box that bounced off the near post, but Mueller was there to clean up the rebound for his first career goal.  
 
TURNING POINT
 
Although Limestone controlled the tempo in the opening half, the go-ahead goal proved to be elusive until the Blue and Gold broke through to make it 1-0 shortly before the break. That score held up in the second half until the Saints added a late tally in the 81^st minute to complete the season sweep over the Royals.
 
NOTABLES
 

• In his final home regular season match, Anet registered his sixth career shutout
• Also most likely playing in his final home match, Marx tallied his second game-winner of the year
• After the Saints started the season 0-1-1, including a two-week shutdown due to COVID-19 protocols, they have since gone 4-0 and have outscored opponents 11-4
• Limestone enters the tournament as the fifth seed after finished second in its pod
• Anderson won the tie breaker over the Saints in the pod standings because the Trojans allowed fewer goals – Wingate edged Limestone for the fourth seed

 
UP NEXT
 
As the fifth seed in the South Atlantic Conference Spring Championship, the Saints will travel to take on No. 11 Wingate University in quarterfinal action on Monday, April 5 at 7 p.m.