JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Julianne Herrity (Donegal, Ireland)scored 88 seconds in and the Carson-Newman Eagles never looked back on their way to a 4-0 victory in their home opener over the Lees-McRae Bobcats at McCown Field.
The Eagles are now 2-0 for the second consecutive season and have scored in the opening two minutes of both games. Herrity has scored both of those goals.
"It's almost become a competition for the girls now," Head Coach Richard Moodie said. "It's a good way to play for us because I think teams expect it. For the girls it's always a great way to start the game. Lees-McRae actually did very well in the first minute keeping the ball and the first time we got a hold of it we punished them."
Varin Ness (Sogndal, Norway) started the opportunity with a run into the left side of the box and she found Herrity uncovered in the middle and the senior fired a shot home for the quick lead.
The Eagles didn't slow down the attack after taking the early lead. Just six minutes later, Lauren Wade (Coleraine, Northern Ireland) took a pass from Ness, charged into the box and beat keeper Alexis Feeley. Wade now has two goals in two games with Carson-Newman and her most recent goal stretched her team's lead to 2-0.
In the 26th minute, the Eagles added one more first half tally for good measure. Ness once again found Herrity in the box and this time Herrity used her head to beat Feeley for her second goal of the evening.
Holly Talbut-Smith (Crawley, England)capped off the scoring in the 63rd minute, when she took a pass inside the 18 from Herrity and scored her second goal of 2016. For Herrity, her assist gave her five points on the night, the most by a Carson-Newman player since Trenna Howell had six points against Brevard in 2011.
Freshman goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns (Cookstown, Northern Ireland) earned her first career shutout by stopping the only shot on goal that came her way. In two games, she's allowed just one goal.
The Eagles are back in action on Tuesday at Alabama-Huntsville, with kick-off set for 1pm.
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