Eagles topple Limestone and advance to NCAA Sweet 16

Eagles topple Limestone and advance to NCAA Sweet 16

GAFFNEY, S.C. – Carson-Newman (14-5) took down no. 13 Limestone (15-4) 3-2 on the Saints' home turf Saturday afternoon to proceed to the Sweet 16.

 

"It was a great result for us, and a great result for the boys," Carson-Newman head soccer coach Richard Moodie said. "The best team won. We deserved every minute of it."

 

In the 29th minute of action, Sindre Welo (Trondheim, Norway) opened the scoring with a header off a free kick taken by Rurik Pereira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

 

"We were the better team," Moodie said, "and created the best chances."

 

Welo now has six goals, seven assists and 19 points on the season. Pereira, a center back, has tallied five assists on the year.

 

After 66 minutes of play, Jorge Mackenna tied it up by smashing in a rebounded shot off the post.

 

Seven minutes later, junior Jake Fielder (Talbott, Tenn.) scored what would be the game winning goal by collecting a shot that was deflected off the keeper and placing it in the bottom corner of the net. Fielder has two goals, five assists and nine points on the year.

 

"Limestone had us worried there for a bit," Moodie said, "but Jake Fielder changed the game with that second goal. He chased down what was almost a lost cause and turned it into something for us."

 

Ross Frame (Welshpool, Powys, United Kingdom) put in his 17th of the season four minutes later to make the final score 3-1. Frame received a pass from Joao Dowsley (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) through the box and slotted it into the right corner.

 

"As a coach, you've got to be happy to be back in the National Tournament," Moodie said. "That's where a school like Carson-Newman belongs not just in soccer but in every sport."

 

Shots were even at 13 a side. Senior captain Rumwald Le Guevel (Vannes, France) totaled five saves on the match giving him a total of 79 this season.

 

Nick Skoda (Knoxville, Tenn.) led the Eagles in shots having taken four, two of which were on target. Jack Bailey released four shots and landed two on net for the Saints.

 

Welo and Frame each had three shots with one on goal.

 

"I'm dead proud of the boys," Moodie said. "We're anxious to see who we play against next week."

 

The Eagles will now move on to the Sweet 16 to face the winner of the Queens – Lander match which is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff Sunday. Time, site and date of the Eagles' Sweet 16 contest is to be determined.