No. 19 Saints Fall to Top-Ranked Young Harris in Second Round of NCAA Tournament

YOUNG HARRIS, GA. – No. 19 Limestone University, the last remaining South Atlantic Conference team in the NCAA DII Men's Soccer Tournament, had its season ended in the second round on Sunday as nationally top-ranked Young Harris College used a pair of second half goals to eliminate the Saints, 2-0.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 1 Young Harris 2, No. 19 Limestone 0
Records: No. 1 Young Harris (18-0-1), No. 19 Limestone (11-5-1)
Location: YHC Soccer and Lacrosse Field
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Freshman defender Stefan Roeb (Konigswinter, Germany) posted Limestone's only shot on goal
• Senior forward Tristyn de Laaf (Dubai, UAE) added a shot attempt in his final collegiate match
• Freshman defender Alexander Render (Hull, England) also finished with an attempted shot
• Freshman defender Sjur Drechsler (Hafrsfjord, Norway) chipped in a shot for the Saints
• Sophomore forward Patrick Callahan (Tampa, Fla.) tallied a shot over 26 minutes played
• Sophomore keeper Johann Hipper (Munich, Germany) logged three saves on the afternoon
• Young Harris doubled up Limestone in shots attempted, 12-6, while each team had six corners

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Half
 
Facing the top-ranked team in the land, and a Mountain Lion program that had ended its season three times in the NCAA Tournament, Limestone was unfazed and came out aggressive on offense. The Saints earned a pair of corners over the first 10 minutes of play while placing a shot on goal in the fourth minute.
 
Graduate defender Andres Cabranes (Gijon, Spain) served the ball from the midfield area off a free kick into the box for Roeb, but his header on frame was hauled in. As it turned out, that would be the only shot attempt for the Saints in the opening half despite earning a total of three corners over the first 45 minutes.
 
Despite finding it difficult to breakthrough against a tough Young Harris back line, the Blue and Gold was equally as impressive on the defensive end against a powerful Mountain Lion offense. Hipper would make two tremendous saves in the first half as Limestone and YHC went into the break in a scoreless deadlock.
 
Second Half
 
The Mountain Lions tested Hipper early in the second half, putting a shot on frame in the 49^th minute, but the sophomore product from Munich was in perfect position for the save. After thwarting a corner by the Saints, Young Harris broke the stalemate on the other end with two quick scores over a five-minute span.
 
Young Harris pulled ahead 1-0 in the 53^rd minute on a perfectly placed cross as there was nothing Hipper could have done to prevent the score. The Saints would then fall behind the Mountain Lions, 2-0, just five minutes later on an unfortunate play in which a cross ricocheted off two offensive players into the netting.
 
Limestone had great look at cutting the deficit in half in the 70^th minute as sophomore midfielder Pascal Werba (Schorndorf, Germany) intercepted a ball and started a 3-on-2 break. He would feed the ball to de Laaf streaking down the left side of the box, but his attempt to put the Saints on the board sailed high and wide of the mark. That attempt was only the second shot attempt of the afternoon for the Blue and Gold.
 
The Saints registered five shots over the final 20 minutes of regulation as Callahan had a crack at the goal in the 72^nd minute before Roeb's second shot of the day was blocked a few ticks later. Dreschler and Render each had shots down the stretch, but neither found the netting as the season ended in a shutout.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Engaged in a defensive battle with the top-ranked team in the country, Limestone went toe-to-toe with Young Harris for 50 minutes. However, the Mountain Lions remained undefeated as they scored twice over a five-minute stretch in the second half and then withstood a final push by the Saints to advance.
 
NOTABLES
 

• The Saints fall to 1-9 all-time against the Mountain Lions, including an 0-4 mark in the postseason
• Limestone has advanced in the NCAA Tournament seven times in 10 appearances
• The Saints have twice bowed out of the NCAA Tournament against a nationally top-ranked team
• Sunday's loss closed collegiate careers of six Saints: Andres Cabranes (Gijon, Spain), Elliot Dymond (Saltash, England), Florian Fromholzer (Happurg, Germany), Tristyn de Laaf (Dubai, UAE), Austin Gunnels (Clover, S.C.), and Nicholas Makins (Ladson, S.C.)
• A three-time all-conference selection, de Laaf will graduate ranked third in program history with 93 career shots on goal, ninth with 23 career goals, and 11^th with 56 career points
• He started in five NCAA Tournament matches during his time at Limestone
• Gunnels was also a part of two NCAA Tournament teams, making a start in the 2019 regional