JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the first time since 2009, the Carson-Newman women's soccer team opened the season 2-0 after a 3-1 win over the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers Saturday afternoon at McCown Field.
Juniors Megan Peterson (Parrish, Fla.), Gabrielle Gianeselli (Knoxville, Tenn.) and senior Nikki McWilliams (Saintfield, Northern Ireland) all tallied their first goals of the season for the Eagles.
The Eagles have won their first two home contests for the second consecutive season after the 2014 edition of the program achieved the feat.
"Slow start to the game but in the second half we were able to play our game and keep possession. Great effort from everyone and a well deserved win.," assistant coach Sarah Tompkins said.
Peterson (Parrish, Fla.) scored the game's first goal after a cross from freshman Averi Williams (Powell, Tenn.) in the 31st minute. Peterson was positioned on the end line at the back post unmarked and walked into the header for her first goal since 2015; it was also her goal since the Mars Hill game as a freshman in 2013.
Gianeselli added her goal after freshman Heida Ragney (Akureyri, Iceland) laid a ball at Gianeselli's feet. The Knoxville-native struck the ball from 30 yards out and beat the UAH keeper Larae Breaux, who was diving to her left to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead at the end of the first half. Gianeselli's goal came in the 42nd minute.
Alabama-Huntsville tallied its lone goal off a controversial penalty kick awarded to the Chargers after a handball was called against the Eagles. Carson-Newman had appealed for a handball seconds before. UAH's Sydnie Fiocca converted the penalty kick for the Chargers' lone goal of the day.
McWilliams capped the scoring for the Eagles with a strike in the 82nd minute. Freshman Holly Talbut-Smith (Crawley, England) delivered the assist with a perfect cross that was low and landed at McWilliams's feet who was making a run at the far post. McWilliams's goal was her first goal in her Carson-Newman career.
Talbut-Smith attempted six shots with four requiring saves. Sophomore Camilla Olsson (Trondheim, Norway) also shot six times with just one of her shots reaching the frame.
Freshman goalkeeper Jessica Fraiture (Hebron, Ky.) tallied three saves and extended her record in goal to 2-0.
C-N outshot the Chargers 26 to six with 17 shots coming in the first half of play. Carson-Newman has now outshot its opponent for the eighth time in 10 games.
A lightning strike delayed the game with 25:16 left in the first half with the game scoreless.
Carson-Newman's next game will be at McCown Field on Friday, September 11th against the Ohio Dominican Panthers at 7 p.m.
