JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The 7th-ranked Carson-Newman women's soccer team has a chance to tie the program record for consecutive games unbeaten to start a season, when they take on the 25st-ranked Wingate Bulldogs at McCown Field on Saturday, Oct. 14.
The streak currently sits at 11, one shy of the mark set in the 2009 season when the Eagles were unbeaten through the first 12 games en route to being named South Atlantic Conference champs. The Eagles won 12 straight games in 2015 from Oct. 7 to Nov. 15.
Both teams will be coming off extended periods of rest as the top two teams in the conference look to put a stranglehold on the regular season title.
Wingate (7-1, 6-0 SAC) has not played since Oct. 4 when they defeated Coker 3-0, marking a 10-day layoff for the Bulldogs. The Eagles (10-0-1, 6-0-1 SAC) had the day off on Wednesday this past week, giving Simon Duffy's squad a chance to recoup off the seven day break before heading into the weekend.
"It's a blessing in disguise with no game on Wednesday in eight weeks," Duffy mentioned. "We trained hard on Monday and Tuesday, and it was nice to mentally reset there. We had some great sessions and we are just finishing up some final touches today."
The Bulldogs are led by senior forward Taylor Leyble who leads the team with five goals and four assists in 2017. Leyble was a preseason second-team all-conference selection along with senior goalkeeper Alexis Jones and senior defender Kaitlyn Fletcher.
Jones leads the SAC with a save percentage of .870, a league-low three goals allowed, and a goals against average of .46.
"We are hitting on all cylinders, getting goals from multiple players. It will be very difficult if they stop one, we have two three or four that can score goals for us," Duffy added.
The Eagles too, have one of the top net minders in the nation in sophomore Jackie Burns who has allowed just seven goals on the season, and holds a goals against average of .65.
C-N, who has one of the top offenses in the nation, has tallied more goals and assists (37 each) than Burns has had to make saves (35). Lauren Wade (21), Magda Mosengo (17) and Holly Talbut-Smith (17) hold the top three spots in total points on the season.
The Eagles will carry a 19-game home unbeaten streak into Saturday, outscoring its opponents 68-14 in that span dating back to the 2015 season.
Carson-Newman will also honor its two seniors prior to the game in forward Lauren Wade and defender Helen Seed.
Seed has been with the team since her freshman year, playing in 70 games, compiling six goals and three assists. She is fourth all-time in program history in minutes played with 5794. The Preston, England native was named first-team all-SAC honoree in 2014 as a freshman. Other accolades preseason first-team all-SAC in 2015 and 2017, the Women's Soccer Championship All-Tournament team in 2015 and 2016, and all-SAC second-team in 2016.
Wade is finishing her second year at Carson-Newman, playing in a total of 28 games. In just two seasons, Wade has 26 goals and 20 assists, putting her tied 5th among point leaders in program history. She is 1st in program history in points per game, assists per game, shots and shots on goal per game.
Wade collected seven different accolades following the 2016 season including South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year, D2CCA Southeast Region Player of the Year, D2CCA First-team All-American, NSCAA second-team All-American, NSCAA and D2CCA First-team all-southeast region, and First-team All-SAC.
"I just wish I had them for a bit longer," Duffy stated. "They're tremendous and special players both on and off the field. I hope all of us can get give them a good send off in the last regular season game at home."
Game time at McCown Field is slated for a 5:00 p.m. start.
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