VIDEO: Stephen Lyons Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Despite a multitude of opportunities and two different leads throughout the course of the game, Carson-Newman (4-4-4, 2-3-3) battled to the very last second, but ultimately played to a 2-2 draw with Catawba (7-3-2, 4-2-2) Saturday evening at McCown Field.
"Thought we did enough today to deserve the win," Carson-Newman head coach Stephen Lyons said. "My biggest takeaway was the good mentality from the guys. Even when we conceded, we got the ball back on the half of the field and we went again. Even with three seconds to go, players are sprinting and bringing energy to try and win the game. The attitude, desire, and mentality to go again and want to win was good. I thought in spells we played some great futbol and that helped create a lot of good chances."
Carson-Newman still has not had consecutive results this season. Following every win, with a tie or loss, every loss with a tie or win and every tie with a win or loss.
Thomas De Graaw (Hoofddorp, Netherlands) had C-N's first two shots of the contest, the second that forced Zac Stiffler to punch away to keep the match scoreless in the 10th minute. Catawba took the game's next two shots, both were off target from Sebastia Cerda-Tous and Salano Birch.
Carson-Newman cashed in on its third shot of the half. Off a deflected cross, the ball came to the feet of Rhydian Williams (Conwy, Wales) who sent a strike through the left side of the goal for his first career goal to put the Eagles ahead 1-0 in the 22nd minute. The shot was Williams' fifth career shot, and it produced his first career goal.
The Eagles offense put four more shots up in the half, and did not allow any more Catawba chances, and held a 1-0 lead at intermission.
The two offenses picked up in the second half. Catawba created many chances in the first 20 minutes of the half, one of which were resulted in a foul in the box setting up a penalty kick for the Indians. Joe Allerton booted the shot into the bottom left corner to tie the game. It was Catawba's fourth penalty kick goal this season.
Carson-Newman was able to answer the Catawba goal. Ben Dukes (Southampton, England) crossed a ball into the box that was misplayed by the defender. Nic Carsh (Newberg, Ore.) was in the right place at the right time and slotted a shot in the lower left side of goal to put the Eagles back in front in the 79th minute. It's Carsh's third of the year and and 17th during his C-N career.
Unfortunately for C-N, the Indians answered back and did it quickly. The next shot was a Cerda-Tous ball that hit off the left post and ricocheted into the back of the net to tie the match back up at 2 in the 80th minute.
There were still plenty of chances to be had for C-N after the Catawba equalizing goal. Mitchell Honcoop (Nieuw-Vennep, Netherlands) and Harry Whitehead (Oxford, England) each had a pair of shots within 20 seconds of each other that were saved by Zac Stiffler. In the 88th minute, Dukes created a chance in the box and sent a shot toward goal that Stiffler made another save on.
After a Federico Simonetti (Crema, Italy) save with less than 40 seconds left, C-N then created its best chance to go back in front. With time winding down, Thomas De Graauw raced across midfield and sent a through ball that found the feet of Whitehead, who would've had a 1v1 with the keeper, but was viciously tackled from behind by Catawba's Gage Bernard who was shown a red card. The foul occurred one yard outside the box and with three seconds left in the match. This set up the Eagles with one final crack at a game-winner. De Graaw took the free kick and sent the ball off the left woodwork and out of play, ending the game. After the Catawba goal in the 80th minute, C-N compiled nine shots but were unable to find a way to get back in front.
Dukes and De Graaw each led C-N with six shots, helping the Eagles outshoot Catawba 24-13, but only 8-7 on goal.
Leading at halftime, Carson-Newman suffers just its fourth tie when ahead at the break under Lyons.
Carson-Newman gets one day off before returning to the pitch on Monday night for a non-conference battle with Lee at McCown Field.
