JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (4-4-1, 2-1-1 South Atlantic Conference) men's soccer team fell to the 10th ranked Young Harris Mountain Lions (8-2) by a 3-2 score on Saturday afternoon at McCown Field.
After trailing 2-0, Carson-Newman rallied for a pair of late goals in the final 20 minutes to tie the score at two. However in the 87th minute mark, Young Harris scored the game-winning goal on a shot by Niall McCabe to escape Mossy Creek with a victory.
"Proud of the effort from the boys," said Carson-Newman head coach Richard Moodie. "You don't like to lose the way we did, but that's the game; it is what it is."
The match began as a tight defensive battle. The match was scoreless until the 37th minute mark when Niall McCabe scored on an assist by Lewis Hilton to give Young Harris a 1-0 lead, which would be the score at the end of the period.
Only a few minutes into the second period, Young Harris added to its advantage in the 52nd minute mark. Once again Hilton provided an assist as he found Ilija Ilic who scored on a lofted kick from just outside the box to put the Mountain Lions ahead by 2-0.
Carson-Newman answered in the 76th minute mark as freshman midfielder Rurik Pereira (Rio de Janiero, Brazil) scored after the Young Harris goalkeeper blocked his initial shot to put the Eagles on the board and cut the Young Harris lead to 2-1. The goal is the first of Pereira's collegiate career.
Nearly 10 minutes later in the 86th minute mark, Carson-Newman tied the game as senior midfielder Matt Craine (Morristown, Tenn.) scored on an assist by Christopher Trejo (Guatemala City, Guatemala) to tie the match at two.
However the tie score only lasted a minute and thirteen seconds. In the 87th minute mark, McCabe scored his second goal of the match on what proved to be the game-winner to give the Mountain Lions a 3-2 lead, which would be the final score.
Young Harris outshot Carson-Newman 16-9 in the match. C-N goalkeeper Rumwald Le Guevel took the loss, allowing three goals and making three saves. Young Harris goalkeeper Wezly Barnard earned the win, allowing two goals and collecting two saves.
"We really just need to get that one win under their belt again so we can start building something," said Moodie. "You saw today the emotion of the comeback, and after we get that win it can give the boys at ease and the confidence they need."
Carson-Newman will next play on Tuesday Oct. 2 against Milligan in Johnson City, Tenn., at 7 p.m.