GAFFNEY, S.C. – Facing one of the toughest opponents in the country, the Queens University of Charlotte men's soccer team (1-1) battled toe-to-toe with No. 14 Limestone (2-0) in its second road contest in as many games. In the end, the Royals fell short to the Saints by a score of 1-0. 
 
Limestone scored the lone goal of the game in the 14th minute when Tristyn de Laaf beat his defender and blasted his shot off the near post. The shot had just enough spin to redirect it into the opposite side of the net for the 1-0 lead and eventual game-winning goal. 
 
The stout defense of the Saints limited the Royals to a total of seven shots, while the Royals defense nearly matched its formidable opponent, allowing only eight shots. Both teams put three shots on goal, of which Queens goal keeper Sebastian Kalk saved two, one game after yielding a shutout in his first game in a Queens uniform. 
 
The best scoring chance the Royals manufactured came in the game's 18th minute when a bouncing ball came inches from crossing into the goal. But Limestone goalie Mirko Ronchi sprinted back towards the goal, and as the bouncing ball hung in the air, leaped and tipped it just enough to redirect it outside of the goal and out of bounds. It would be the closest Queens got to finding the back of the night. 
 
Senior forward Austin Clamon led the Royals with two shots, while Keegan Burton, Kieran Gore and Alberto Morales all but shots on goal. 
 
Next up, Queens will return to Charlotte for its first home game of the season this Wednesday, Sept. 5 at Dickson Field. The Royals will face Erskine College.