JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Despite a second half equalizer, Carson-Newman men's soccer (7-5-5) fell to Limestone (6-5-5) in the SAC quarterfinals Saturday night at McCown field.
"When we got the penalty and scored the goal, I felt confident that we would get another opportunity," Carson-Newman head coach Stephen Lyons said. "I think that's what tonight was about, the opportunities we had didn't go in. They were clinical when they got opportunities and pushed forward there late."
C-N has been knocked out of the SAC quarterfinals at home for the second consecutive season and third time in the last four seasons. After going unbeaten in its first six home matches this season, the Eagles lose their final three home games of 2022.
Limestone struck first in the 18th minute. Off a takeaway, Angelo Fabricio sent a through ball to Mark Radoki who used his speed to outrun the C-N defense and send a ball into the bottom right corner of goal to put the Saints up 1-0.
C-N's best opportunity in the first half came in the 23rd minute. Senior Harry Whitehead got space in the attacking third, sprinted past a Saints defender, forcing a one on one with the keeper. But his shot ventured wide left as it trickled across the front of goal and out of play.
The only other Eagles shot in the first half came on a header from Whitehead that was on target but blocked by a Saints defender. All three first half shots came from Whitehead.
Darrin De Meza made four first half saves to keep the Eagles within one at the break.
The Eagles offense came out of halftime firing. C-N had five shots, three on target in the first 15 minutes of the second half. The three shots on target were all saved by Saints goalkeeper Alfie Rule.
C-N's attack forward paid off in the 65th minute. A Limestone defender committed a hand ball giving the Eagles a penalty kick. Senior Yannick Kranz stepped up and buried his second penalty this season to bring the match level at 1.
Both teams continued to create opportunities, as both goalkeepers made a save in the ten minutes after the equalizer. The Saints made a good run forward and substitute Maziko Jiya sprinted into the box and sent a shot past De Meza to put the Saints back in front 2-1 in the 78th minute.
Lyons' team became very aggressive on the offensive end and recorded three shots in the following five minutes of action, none of which required a Rule save.
Because of the aggressiveness, Limestone had chances to counter. Mark Radoki did exactly that and scored two goals within 30 seconds in the 86th minute to lift the Saints past the Eagles. Radoki recorded a hat trick in the match, scoring the first goal and the final two.
Senior Harry Whitehead attempted a team-high seven shots in the match, with only one on target. Sophomore Jakob Lechner, and seniors Jannik Schulte, Yannick Kranz and Willem Kruijk each had multiple shots as well.
De Meza faced 11 shots on goal, making seven saves in the match.
C-N was outshot 21-16 in the match, with 13 of its 16 shots coming in the second half of action.
The Eagles will await the Super-region 2 rankings, with hopes at an at-large NCAA tournament berth.
Eagle fans can stay up to date with the men's soccer team and the rest of Carson-Newman athletics at cneagles.com.
