GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Redshirt junior Jez Rubalcava tallied 10 saves as Palm Beach Atlantic (1-0-1) women's soccer tied 0-0 with Tusculum (1-0-1) Sunday afternoon. Rubalcava's efforts ensured that the Sailfish would avoid the same fate that befell fellow Sunshine State Conference member No. 23 Nova Southeastern, who lost 3-2 earlier this weekend to Tusculum.
The first 15 minutes of the match saw spectacular diving saves from both Rubalcava and Tusculum's Hannah Graham. Scoring chances in the first half were few and far between. The most promising chance for the Sailfish in the first half came in the 16th minute when junior Trine Seistrup shot from 12 yards out. Tusculum's Graham dove just in time to keep the game scoreless.
The Pioneers picked up the pace of the first half in the last seven minutes, tallying three header shots that Rubalcava handled with ease.
The second half saw the game open up for both teams offensively with the Sailfish racking up 10 shots and the Pioneers nine. Redshirt sophomore Kylee Rullo had three chances in the 47th, 49th and 52nd minutes to put the Sailfish ahead. A save from close range and two shots wide right kept the game level.
Rubalcava racked up five saves in the second half, including a lunging save from 10 yards out and two saves in the 87th and 90th minutes that forced the game into overtime.
Only two shots were recorded in the first overtime period, both for Palm Beach Atlantic and off target.
The last overtime period saw two additional saves from Rubalcava and a diving stop from Tusculum's Graham in the 108th minute. The Sailfish would record two additional off-target shots in the last two minutes before the whistle blew the 0-0 score final.
Palm Beach Atlantic remains unbeaten in the 2018 season having won against the University of Alabama in Huntsville 2-0 earlier this weekend. The Sailfish have yet to concede a goal and will look to build off of the offensive production new transfers and recruits, including sophomore Ashley Swanson, freshman Thorkatla Halldorsdottir and freshman Kylie Meola.
The Sailfish have their home opener this Thursday at 6 p.m. against Belmont Abbey. The game kicks off a four-game home stand that will see women's soccer also take on Florida Memorial, Glenville State and Ave Maria in a span of a week.
