JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Junior defender Melissa Morris
(Sweetwater, Tenn.) scored a goal with 0.3 seconds left in
regulation off a corner kick from Andrea Saevik (Bolandet, Norway)
to lift the seventh-ranked Carson-Newman women’s soccer team
to a 3-2 win over Columbus State on Friday night in the Southeast
Regional final of the NCAA Division II Tournament at McCown
Field.
With the victory, the Lady Eagles (20-2-1) advance to the Elite
Eight, where they will face top-ranked West Florida (21-0) on
Sunday at 1 p.m. in Jefferson City. West Florida defeated Rollins,
1-0, in the first match of the night to punch its ticket to the
quarterfinals.
Columbus State's season comes to an end at 16-3-3.
C-N had nine seconds left in regulation to set up the match-winning
goal, as Saevik raced to the corner to get off the kick. Morris
reacted quickly when Saevik’s corner landed in front of her
and booted home the decisive goal to send the Lady Eagles into the
round of eight.
The Lady Eagles had plenty of opportunities to put the match away
in the second half, outshooting the Lady Cougars 13-3. C-N held a
20-8 advantage in shots for the match.
Senior forward Nikki Brannen (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) gave the Lady
Eagles an early 1-nil lead, as she finished off a cross from Trenna
Howell (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) in the ninth minute.
C-N added to its lead in the 38th minute. Saevik controlled a
deflection and fired a shot past Columbus State goalkeeper Kelly
Nimmo to give the Lady Eagles a 2-0 advantage.
Columbus State refused to go into the half quietly, as Jill
Walthall (Clarkston, Ga.) placed the ball in the back of the net
with three seconds left on the clock to trim C-N’s lead to
2-1 heading into the locker room.
Lady Cougars defender Kelsey Bass (The Woodlands, Texas) tallied
the equalizer early in the second half. Bass collected a pass from
Kayla Brown (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and scored a goal in the 57th
minute to tie the match at 2-2.
The Lady Eagles misfired on several good looks at the goal down the
stretch before Morris’ match-winner.
C-N goalkeeper Lauren MacKenzie (Barrie, Ontario) collected five
saves to pick up the win, while Nimmo finished with five saves in
the loss.
The Elite Eight appearance will be the first for the Lady Eagles
since 2005 and third overall under C-N head coach Phil McNamara.
C-N advanced to the final four in both 2004 and 2005. The Lady
Eagles played West Florida in the Elite Eight in 2005, winning the
match 2-0.
Postgame quotes
Carson-Newman head coach Phil McNamara:
“We’re thrilled. I can’t believe how well we
played. We came out from the beginning with a major purpose to our
game. That’s the best that we’ve played this year, and
we knew we were going to have to play our best to be a strong
opponent in Columbus State. They are hard workers and are well
coached and have had a lot of success the last several years. I
have to give all the credit in the world to my players tonight. We
didn’t make one substitution, and the starters played their
hearts out. I’m just extremely proud of the effort and also
the style of our play. I thought we played a lot of good soccer
tonight.”
Columbus State head coach Jay Entlich:
“I told the kids, ‘Honestly, the better team won
tonight.’ It just goes to show that heart can carry you a
long way. In the end, you saw Carson-Newman sprinting to get down
the field and you saw Columbus State walking. They deserve it for
sure.”
April 27, 2010
Carson-Newman names Carol Bonnes head womens soccer coach
November 15, 2009
No. 7 Carson-Newman Defeats Tusculum, 1-0, to Advance to Sweet 16
November 13, 2009
No. 7 Carson-Newman Set to Face Tusculum on Sunday in NCAA Tournament
November 11, 2009
Carson-Newman Womens Soccer Climbs to No. 7 in Final NSCAA Poll
November 3, 2009
Carson-Newman Womens Soccer Ranked 11th in NSCAA Top 25
October 27, 2009
Carson-Newman Womens Soccer Drops to 11th in NSCAA Top 25
October 20, 2009
No. 10 Carson-Newman Falls to Lincoln Memorial, 3-2, in Double OT
October 20, 2009
Carson-Newman Womens Soccer Ranked 10th in NSCAA Top 25
October 17, 2009
No. 8 Carson-Newman Womens Soccer Blanks Wingate, 2-0
October 13, 2009
Carson-Newman Suffers First Loss of 2009 to Lee University, 4-1
October 13, 2009
Carson-Newman Women's Soccer Drops to No. 8 in NSCAA Top 25
October 10, 2009
Carson-Newman, Catawba Play to 1-1 Tie
October 6, 2009
Carson-Newman Remains at No. 7 in NSCAA Poll
October 3, 2009
Lady Eagles Shut Out Mars Hill, 3-0
September 29, 2009
Carson-Newman Climbs to Seventh in NSCAA Poll
September 27, 2009
Eighth-Ranked Carson-Newman Opens SAC Play With 1-0 Win Over Lenoir-Rhyne
September 22, 2009
Carson-Newman Stays Put at No. 8 in Latest NSCAA Top 25 Poll
September 18, 2009
Howell's Goal in Second OT Lifts Carson-Newman Past Tampa, 1-0
September 15, 2009
Carson-Newman Ranked Eighth in NSCAA Top 25 Poll
September 11, 2009
No. 11 Lady Eagles Hold Off No. 22 Lynn, 3-2
September 8, 2009
Lady Eagles Jump to 11th in the Latest NSCAA Poll
September 5, 2009
Lady Eagles Shut Out Pfeiffer, 3-0, for Fourth-Straight Win
September 4, 2009
Carson-Newman Slips Past Queens, 2-1, in OT
August 31, 2009
Lady Eagles Roll Past Young Harris, 4-0
August 27, 2009
Lady Eagles Blank King, 3-0, to Open 2009 Season
August 26, 2009
Lady Eagles Look to Carry Momentum from Last Season into 2009
August 7, 2009
Lady Eagles Report to Preseason Camp
August 3, 2009
Lady Eagles Picked to Win SAC Title
August 3, 2009
Seven Lady Eagles Named to Preseason All-SAC Teams
June 1, 2009
C-N Announces 2009 Women's Soccer Schedule