VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Stephen Lyons Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the second time this season, two periods of extra time were needed in a Carson-Newman match as it drew with Mars Hill, 1-1, in South Atlantic Conference play on Wednesday night at McCown Field.
"I couldn't fault the guys' effort but with the number of opportunities we created and the set pieces we had, we've got to be more clinical. That's the bottom line," coach Stephen Lyons said. "We missed a penalty (kick), outshot them significantly, had plenty of corners. We've got to be more clinical. That's kind of the big story of the night, I think."
This is the second time the Eagles (7-3-2, 3-2-2 SAC) have faced a double-overtime draw in the 2018 campaign, both coming on their home pitch.
The series with Mars Hill (6-5-2 2-4-2 SAC) has needed seven overtime periods all-time with four being double overtimes, two now happening in back-to-back years. All four of those overtime sessions have resulted in draws.
The Lions were first to capitalize as Adnan Saltagic lined up for a free kick that slid across the pitch and found Matthew Jackson. He sent a shot past C-N's goalkeeper Twan Verweij (Utrecht, Netherlands), who overran the ball, giving Jackson's shot a path to the back of the net, putting the Lions up 1-0 in the 15th minute.
Carson-Newman tried to compose multiple opportunities to equalize but could not do so until the 39th minute. Evan Harr (Bristol, Tenn.) dropped off a pass to Tobias Solem Karlsen (Kongsvinger, Norway) on the right side of the 18-yard box. The junior sent a cross to an open Jonny Le Quesne (Jersey, Channel Islands) nearly nine yards out from the left post. He made the most of an empty left portion of the net with his second goal of the season to tie the game at one.
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"We know what he can do," Lyons said of the senior midfielder. "I think adding more goals to his all-around game is definitely something he can do for the team and that was a good time to start that and start to build on that and take that into postseason. Good moment for the team and good moment for Jonny, individually, as well."
Karlsen had a chance of his own to give C-N a lead in the waning seconds of the opening half, breaking away toward the goal. His shot attempt was saved by Brian Salzman just as the horn sounded, sending the game into the break.
A foul in the 18-yard box gave the Eagles an opportunity to take the lead on a penalty kick in the 51st minute. Ashley Kelynack (High Wycombe, England) set up his third PK attempt of the season but his shot was saved by Salzman, marking the first time this season a Kelynack penalty kick has not been successful.
The Lions could only get one shot on goal in the second half as Joakim Lien sent a shot out in the 71st minute. His chance was saved by Verweij, the only save the C-N keeper needed on the night.
In the first overtime period, Le Quesne and Karlsen recorded the best chances that Carson-Newman had of scoring in the session. All three of their combined attempts were saved by Salzman.
As for the second overtime, Le Quesne was the only player on the pitch to record a shot. His chance in the 110th minute ended up going high.
Carson-Newman recorded its second-highest shots total of the season with 27 on the night with 11 on goal. On the flip side, it held Mars Hill to eight shots, just a pair of those landing on frame.
This was the third time this season the Eagles held their opponent to two shots on goal, the other teams being Lenoir-Rhyne on Sept. 12 and Lander on Oct. 10, both of those matches resulting in losses.
The Eagles lined up for 12 corners in the contest, the second-highest amount in a single game this season. Mars Hill only had one corner on the night, the lowest total by a C-N opponent this season.
Le Quesne came off the bench and led the shooting tally for the Eagles with five shots, three of those on goal. Kelynack and Karlsen were second with four shots each.
For Mars Hill, Ramus Nielsen led the way with two shots. Six other Lions were only able to muster one shot apiece.
Mars Hill's Salzman was pressured heavily by the Eagles throughout the match, being forced to make 10 saves.
The Eagles head back on the road for their final series away from Mossy Creek in the regular season, starting with a Saturday meeting with Wingate. That match will begin at 7:30 p.m. from the Wingate Soccer Complex in Wingate, N.C. A live broadcast and live stats will be provided by the folks at Wingate while live tweets of the contest can be found on Twitter from @CNathletics.
