Royals prevail against persistent Eagles in overtime

Royals prevail against persistent Eagles in overtime

 

VIDEO: Stephen Lyons Interview

Box Score

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – A penalty kick in the first 49 seconds of overtime broke a tie at two as the secon-seeded Eagles fell to seventh-seed Queens (N.C.) 3-2 in the South Atlantic Quarterfinal at McCown Field on Tuesday night.

The loss extended the Eagles losing streak to four, putting the Eagles at 12-12-0 in first round games and 16-21-2 in conference tournament games.

A foul in the 18-yard box set up the penalty kick for the Royals as Omer Okyar sent a shot past Twan Verweij, diving in the opposite direction.

Carson-Newman (9-7-2) has now lost both conference meetings with Queens, both coming in the quarterfinals.

"I thought it was a hard fought match from both sides," head coach Stephen Lyons said. "After taking the early lead, couldn't quite hold onto it."

Collin Hensel put the Eagles on the board in the 27th minute. Sergio Lemus attempted clear a shot from in front of the net, but Hensel deflected the ball with his shoulder, sending the ball into the net for his second goal of the season.

The goal marked the first time in the past six games that the Eagles did not concede the first goal.

"We've said all along it was going to take a full-squad effort to get a successful season, to be in the places we want to be," Lyons mentioned. "Guys stepped in all over the place."

In the 59th minute, Keegan Burton equalized the game at one as Queens capitalized on a C-N turnover. Michael Hornsby at the left side of the box fed a pass towards Burton near the center, sending a shot in with no one around him.

Edmundo Robinson put the Royals ahead at the 68:30 mark off of a pass from the top of the 18-yard box. Robinson took one touch before shooting in a shot off of the right post.

With less than seven minutes remaining in regulation, Tom Read gathered a rebound off of a blocked shot to tie the game at deuces, sending it into overtime. The goal marked his 11th on the season, tying him for a team-high on the season with Tobias Solem Karlsen. He is eighth in program history with 24 career goals.

Read had two shots with one on goal in the match, putting him at second-most in team history with 219 shots and the third-most shots on goal at 93.

His two points in the loss give him 79 in his career, the sixth-most in program history.

"I was pleased with the response when went 2-1," Lyons mentioned. "Tom Read stepped up and delivered."

Verweij moves to 8-7-1 on the season, saving five of the eight shots he faced.

Lemus faced six shots with four saves, placing him at 5-1-2.

Queens (8-5-4) held the shooting advantage in the opening half and maintained that lead through the rest of the game, outshooting the Eagles 17-11. This was just the fourth time they had been outshot on the season.

"I think we all agree that we've fallen short of our expectations on the field, but we've got a good foundation to build on for next season and going forward."

The Royals advance to the SAC Tournament semifinals for a matchup with sixth-seed Anderson (S.C.). That game will take place at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, S.C.