VIDEO: Richard Moodie Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – On Friday, Carson-Newman women's soccer team will make its ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament when the sixth-seeded Eagles face the third-seeded Limestone Saints at 2 p.m. at the University of North Georgia Soccer Complex in Dahlonega, Ga.
"We're looking to build off where we came out of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament on the weekend," Moodie said. "Overall, I've been really proud of the girls and their reaction to the challenege ahead. I think they'll do a great job this week."
C-N earned their spot in the nationals by taking down three straight opponents in the SAC Tournament to earn the league's automatic bid. They began the tournament by knocking off Catawba 2-0 in the quarterfinals and the team followed that up with a 5-0 rout of Anderson (S.C.) in the semis. In the league final, the Eagles scored two first half goals against the Wingate Bulldogs and held on for a 2-1 win to claim their second straight SAC championship and sixth overall. Carson-Newman has also won five straight, which ties their longest win streak of the season. They will be attempting to earn their 12th NCAA Tournament win against eight losses.
Limestone, out of the Conference Carolinas, earned the third-seed in the Southeast region by putting together a season that saw them rise to No. 12 in the national rankings and compile a record of 18-1. The Saints took their only loss of the season on Sept. 7th at Queens (N.C.) by a 2-0 score and they've won 17 straight since then, the second-longest win streak in Division II this season. They won their conference tournament by disposing of Southern Wesleyan University and Lees-McRae College before edging Belmont Abbey 2-1 in the title match. This marks the Saints' second tourney appearance, with the previous showing coming last season, when they lost to the University of North Georgia in the first round.
The Saints arrive at nationals with a potent offense at their disposal. They scored 47 goals this season, an average of nearly two-and-a-half per game and a total that ranks them 19th in the nation. At one point this season, they'd scored multiple goals in 14 straight contests and they've scored at least twice in 16 of their last 17 matches. Their season-high came against King (Tenn.) on Oct. 12th, when they scored seven times, but they've scored more than twice in a game just five times. Their attack is led by sophomore Megan O'Connor, who topped the conference with 17 goals and 37 points. Her season has included a four goal performance in her team's win over King as well a streak of goals in ten consecutive matches. In the assist category, Naiara Kapstein leads the squad with seven, which ties her for third in Conference Carolinas.
For Carson-Newman, their offense has been among the best in the nation all season and they currently sit fourth with 73 goals. They have been led by SAC Player of the Year Lauren Wade (Coleraine, Northern Ireland) and fellow first-team All-SAC selection Julianne Herrity (Donegal, Ireland). Wade leads the conference in goals with 20 and points with 49 and is also the national leader in points per game at 3.27 and goals per game with 1.33. She's also tied for second in the SAC with nine assists. Herrity is not far behind her teammate with 18 goals and 43 points, both second in the SAC. In the assists category, Varin Ness (Sogndal, Norway) sits at the top of the leaderboard with 10.
The Eagles also boast one of the best defenses in the country. The goal they allowed in the SAC title game against Wingate was the first one they'd conceded in six games. Their goals-against average of 0.49 puts them 14th in the nation and they've also allowed just 64 shots on goal, the fewest in the conference. Goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns (Cookstown, Northern Ireland) has already broken the SAC record for shutouts in a season with 13 and has the league's second-best save percentage at .844.
As great as Carson-Newman's defense has been in 2016, Limestone's has been statistically better. The Saints have earned a goals-against average of 0.42, tenth in the nation and the score they allowed in their conference championship game against Belmont Abbey is the only ball that's gotten past keeper Meredith Bailey in her last seven games. A sophomore from Smyrna, Ga. Bailey has seven shutouts to her credit in 14 starts. She owns a perfect 15-0 record and the eighth best goals-against average in Division II at 0.359. Her save percentage of .853 is also the best in Conference Carolinas.
Friday will mark the fourth time these programs have squared off and the Eagles hold a small advantage with two wins. The Saints did take the last meeting, which came in 2012 at McCown Field and ended in a 2-1 victory for Limestone. Carson-Newman's two wins in the series came in 1992 and 1993.
"The big thing when you get to these tournaments," coach Moodie said, "and its not disrespect to Limestone, is to focus on yourself. That's what got us here. That'll be the message to the players. We just need to show up and play our best football and I think we can go really far in this tournament."
The match is being hosted by the No. 2 seed in the Southeast region, the North Georgia Nighthawks, and has a scheduled start time of 2 p.m. It will be broadcast live on Youtube via the Nighthawk Sports Network and live stats will also be available. A full write-up of the contest will be posted on cneagles.com.
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