Railsplitters Advance To SAC Tournament Semifinals With 4-1 Win Over Carson-Newman
November 1, 2011
Callum Home scores LMU's third goal. Photo by Allen Earl PhotographyHARROGATE, TN - For the first time since the 2008 season, the Lincoln Memorial University men's soccer (8-6-3) team will play in the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament semifinals. The no. 4 seed Railsplitters earned the berth in this year's event Tuesday afternoon when they won their quarterfinal round match against no. 5 seed Carson-Newman College (6-9-1) 4-1 in Harrogate.
The Railsplitters wasted little time in taking the upper hand against the Eagles on Tuesday. In only the 11th minute of the match, LMU freshman Mario Pinto caught a pass from teammate and countryman Leonardo Germniani and punched it into the frame from 10 yards out in front of the goal to give the Railsplitters a 1-0 lead. Carson-Newman bounced back less than five minutes later at the 14:24 mark when the Eagle's Taylor Jolley used teammate Robert Hill's pass to even the match at 1-1.
Tied 1-1, the LMU men increased their offensive attack all until defender Nick Muth struck paydirt at 21:32 with some indirect help from teammate Mario Pinto to once again give Railsplitters the lead. Muth's goal came when Pinto slipped past the keeper and chipped the ball toward the goal. Muth came streaking into the box and found the back of the net to give the Railsplitters the 2-1 advantage.
After playing scoreless the remainder of the first half, LMU's final goals came early in the final stanza to seal the Eagles fate. Railsplitter defender Callum Home scored his fourth goal of the season with help from Mario Pinto when he headed Pinto's corner kick into the frame from five yards out. The final nail came when junior Mackenzie Wilde intercepted adefensive pass to the keeper, got by the keeper and scored to give LMU its 4-1 margin of victory.
Defensively, Carson-Newman goalkeeper Michael Alley finished the afternoon with four saves and four goals-against, while LMU goalkeeper Michael Watkins stopped two Eagle shots and gave up only one goal.
The Railsplitters will now prepare to travel to Rock Hill, South Carolina for Friday's semifinal round action, which is set to be played at the Rock Hill Sportsplex. LMU will face top-seeded Anderson University at 4 p.m.
Carson-Newman (6-9-1) vs. Lincoln Memorial (8-6-3) Date: Nov 01, 2011 Attendance: 250 Weather: Clear, light breeze, low 60s Goals by period 1 2 Tot ------------------------------- Carson-Newman....... 1 0 - 1 Lincoln Memorial.... 2 2 - 4
SCORING SUMMARY: 1. 10:33 LMU Mario Pinto (13) (Leonardo Germniani)
2. 14:24 C-NM Taylor Jolley (6) (Robert Hill) 3. 21:32 LMU Nicholas Muth (1) (Mario Pinto)
4. 55:55 LMU Callum Home (4) (Mario Pinto) 5. 67:31 LMU Mackenzie Wilde (2) (unassisted)
Shots: Carson-Newman 10, Lincoln Memorial 17 Saves: Carson-Newman 4 (Michael Alley 4), Lincoln Memorial 3
(Michael Watkins 3)
2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals #4 Lincoln Memorial vs. #5 Carson-Newman LMU will advance to the semifinals in Rock Hill, S.C.
