VIDEO: Setphen Lyons Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn - For the final installment in the three-part preview of the 2017 Carson-Newman men's soccer team, the spotlight lands on the goalkeepers and defenders.
With two goalkeepers looking to get the starting nod for the season, coach Stephen Lyons knows that the competition between sophomore Joe Boyd and graduate Twan Verweij will be extremely serious.
"Joe had a great season last season and a good spring as well, so we know that he's a top goalkeeper," Lyons said. "We do have a new incoming keeper, Twan, already he's impressing the coaching staff. He's got good size on him and good maturity level.
"We can only take one of the two [as a starter] so hopefully it will be a healthy competition through the season so they both can improve and do well."
Boyd returns to the position with an All-SAC Honorable Mention accolade under his belt from last season. He played in the first 15 games for the Eagles before missing the final two games due to an injury. He finished the season in the SAC top five for saves, save percentage, goals against and goals-against average, with 20 goals and a .775 save percentage making him fourth in the conference.
The defending position sees just four returning players at the position with sophomore Tobias Solem Karlsen and senior Samuel Jenkins leading the way. Karlsen, who will also see time at the forward position, appeared in 12 games last season making seven shots with four on goal for the season. Jenkins started in 13 of his 16 appearances, making nine shots, four on goal last season.
James Coady and Leon Mattig will also be vying for playing time among the returning defenders who look to set the tone for the newest four players at the position: freshmen Tommy Lysheim and Gabe Martin, senior Daan Smit and graduate Dylan McCabe. Martin, a Corryton, Tenn. native, had an impressive career at Gibbs High School where he was voted to the All-District second team as a freshman before being named to the All-District first team throughout the rest of his career.
"Each of them just brings something a little bit different to the table, whether its maturity or different physical aspects," Lyons said. "So, right now it's just working out what group's going to work together well and do the best job for us."
The Eagles will start their season on the road against North Greenville on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 3 p.m.