GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Tusculum University and Catawba College played to a 0-0 draw in South Atlantic Conference men’s soccer Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
The statistics were nearly as even as the scoreboard, with both teams taking nine shot attempts and putting five on goal. Catawba ({2-3-5, 1-2-3 SAC) had a slim 5-4 edge in corner kicks, while Tusculum (0-5-2, 0-2-2 SAC) had a 19-18 lead in fouls.
Noe Delmotte picked up his second shutout of the season with five saves for the Pioneers, while Zak Stiffler had five saves for the Indians.
Offense was scarce in the first half, with the only shot attempts of the first 30 minutes coming on two headers well wide of the target from Tusculum’s Devin Vital. Catawba put the only shot on goal of the first half in the final minute, as a free kick from Tomas Kelly was gathered by Delmotte.
Tusculum’s first shot on goal also came on a free kick, with Stiffler smothering a bouncing shot by Lars Schutrups in the 47th minute. Delmotte made a stop on Catawba’s Sebastia Cerda-Tous in the 50th minute, then Stiffler came nearly out to the top of the 18 to deflect a chance from Tusculum’s Clarenns Sainrimat in the 55th minute.
The Pioneers nearly struck for a goal in the 62nd minute, but a feed to Mason Clark was fired just high of the crossbar. Stiffler dove to smother a shot from Zaki Goes in the 66th minute, and another try by Schutrups sailed high in the 75th minute. Stiffler collected his fifth and final save on a header from Clark in the 82nd minute.
Catawba had four corner kicks in the last 4 1/2 minutes, including three consecutively, but could muster just one shot attempt on a weak header from Jaime Serrano that was pulled in by Delmotte with just under two minutes left.
The linesmen’s flags were deployed frequently, with Tusculum called six times for offsides and Catawba three times. Each team was also shown two yellow cards during the match.
Tusculum will be on the road for its next three matches, starting Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. at Emory & Henry. The Wasps are 0-7-1 overall and 0-5-0 in conference play, but gave fifth-ranked Limestone a scare on Wednesday before falling 1-0 on a goal with 4:31 remaining.
