Richard Moodie Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman (7-9-2) men's soccer team's post-season play came to a heartbreaking, premature end for the second consecutive year with tonight's 2-1 loss to conference rival Tusculum (10-6-2).

"We've shared highs and unfortunately we've shared lows," Carson-Newman head soccer coach Richard Moodie said. "But that's sports; that's football."

Tusculum's Jonathan Spicher put up a goal and an assist in tonight's match to advance his team to the SAC semifinal round. In the 15^th minute, Spicher sent a through ball from the right side of the Eagles' defensive third to the left side of the 18-yard box with which Tyler Linkous made contact to put the Pioneers up by one.

C-N entered halftime trailing the Pioneers by a goal. In the 60^th minute, junior center back Rurik Pereira (Brazil) connected with a corner kick taken by senior captain Kristian Speake (United Kingdom) for a header goal to tie up the match.

"Our center backs going forward on set pieces have been great all year," Coach Moodie said. "The delivery was fantastic."

Pereira now has four goals on the season, all of which were the Eagles' only goal of that respective match.

Spicher provided TC with the winning goal in the 88^th minute of regulation off another through ball, this one sent by senior captain Mark Patterson.

"We lost the ball with numbers down," Coach Moodie said. "They capitalized on our mistake."

The Eagles outshot Tusculum 13 to 10; both teams landed five shots on target. Junior keeper Micah Varner (Charlotte, N.C.) tallied three saves on the night.

Senior Joao Dowsley (Brazil) led C-N in shots having taken four, two on frame. Speake, Pereira and Lucas Siqueira (Brazil) each released two shots.

"We are not going to settle for being average, middle of the conference," Coach Moodie said. "It's been a rough year, but we need to figure out who we are and work harder."

The Lads conclude their season with a 7-9-2 record overall, 6-3-2 in regular season conference play.

"We want to be a fantastic soccer program here at Carson-Newman," Coach Moodie said. "That's just what we're going to strive for."