Tornado drop heart breaker at #15 Limestone
GAFFNEY, S.C. – On Tuesday afternoon, the King University men's soccer team went toe-to-toe with the nation's #15 team, Limestone College, in the Conference Carolinas Tournament Quarterfinals. The seventh seeded Tornado were scoreless with the second seeded Saints all day until Limestone netted the game-winner with seven minutes left to end King's season.
The Tornado (4-11-2) appeared to be the better team in the first half as they outshot the Saints 5-2, putting three shots on net, and one near miss.Thomas Dube registered King's first shot on frame in the 10th minute, but it was turned away by Kyle Karagitz, the Saints' keeper. Ryan Murphy had a shot saved in the 18th minute before Dube turned in one of King's best scoring chances of the game.
Dube ripped a shot from the right side of the field in the 38th minute that was out of Karagitz's reach, however, the shot hit the crossbar. Eli Carrascofollowed with the rebound attempt, but Karagitz recovered to keep the game scoreless. King goalkeeper Kari Sveinsson registered two saves in the first half, as the game remained tied.
In the second half, Limestone (13-3) came out an attacked the Tornado early and often. King's defense held serve, facing 13 shots. The Tornado offense's lone scoring opportunity of the second half came in the 66th minute as Kendale Liburd dribbled down the right side of the box and laced a shot across the goal. The attempt beat the keeper, but the Tornado were unlucky again as the shot hit the far post. Murphy followed with a shot that was stopped by the Saint defense to keep the game scoreless.
At that point the Saints brought play back to the other end, and their pressure finally paid off in the 83rd minute. Sam Orritt played a ball across the front of the net that found Jack Bailey's foot. Bailey then slid the ball into the back of the net to give Limestone the 1-0 lead.
The Tornado had a chance to even the score with a corner kick in the 87th minute, but they weren't able to find the back of the net as their season came to an end. With the loss, seniors Peter Griffith, Joshua Feener, and David Eagan have played their final game in the Scarlet and Navy.
The Saints outshot King 15-7 in the match, and had more corners than the Tornado, 8-3.
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