Video: Simon Duffy and Magda Mosengo Interview
Highlights: Carson-Newman vs. Columbus State
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Five Eagles remained from the 2015 team who fell at McCown Field to Columbus State 4-1. Almost two years to the date, top-seeded and second-ranked Carson-Newman throttled the second-seeded and 10th-ranked Cougars 6-0 claiming the Southeast Region Championship.
It marks the fourth region championship in C-N program history and the largest margin of victory ever in the team's 23 NCAA tournament games.
For the Cougars (16-4), it is the most goals they've allowed in a match since 2005 when Lincoln Memorial garnered a 7-3 victory. The six-goal drubbing is the largest loss for Columbus State since Jay Entlich took over in 2004.
Although the No. 1 offense in the nation collected 15 shots with eight on frame, sophomore goalkeeper Jackie Burns was standing in the way as she collected a new program record with 24.3 shutouts in her career.
"That is one of the best Carson-Newman team's I have ever seen in my time here and they were by far the best team we had played all season," Coach Entlich added following the match.
Entlich is the all-time winningest coach in the Peach Belt Conference at 241-52-22.
"Emotionally a lot goes into a game like that," Coach Duffy added. "For him to say that is fantastic."
The Eagles (19-0-1) have faced the Cougars four times in the region finals dating back to 2006. The series now sits a 3-3 as C-N inches closer to the program record of 20 wins in a single season.
Duffy doesn't like to share. The Southeast Region Title goes to the Eagles.
— C-N Athletics (@CNathletics) November 18, 2017
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The Southeast Region Player of the Year strived to make her name known yet again on the biggest stage so far in the 2017 season. Senior Lauren Wade proved her talent in the 28th minute, drilling a ball from the left side of the 18-yard box along the grass and past a sprawling Bria Riancho for her 17th goal of the season.
The eventual game-winning goal is the 7th of her senior season, putting the Northern Ireland native in a three-way tie for most game winners with Julianne Herrity (2015) and Trenna Howell (2009) in the history of the program.
C-N built its lead before the break after a corner kick in the 38th minute bounced around in the box as Alex Brandan and Averi Williams kept chipping away. The ball, which was initally shot by Brandan, glanced off the knee of Mosengo and into the net.
The Cougars created its best opportunities to come within a goal at the beginning of the second half, although the remainder of the night would belong to Simon Duffy's squad.
"I never dreamt it would finish up the way it did," Duffy remarked. "Beyond ecstatic with what we did, and Columbus State is a quality opponent."
Four goals for the Eagles in the final 22 minutes started in the 69th minute when another corner kick landed in the middle of the box. The ball deflected off the chest of a Cougar defender as a waiting Mosengo swept it in for her 12th goal of the year.
Just 90 seconds later, corner kicks played another factor as senior defender Helen Seed poked through a ball with her back heel in front of the net for her career-best fourth goal in 20 games. Williams once again was involved in the play, collected her second assist of the match.
Freshman Emilee Futrell joined in on the party in the 83rd minute when Catarina Realista and Mosengo created open real estate for the Wilson, N.C. native.
Futrell raced into the right side of box striking the ball with her right boot to collect her 8th tally of the season.
Moments later, Mosengo once again made her mark after a nifty move at midfield on a feed from Wade, left the junior with green grass in front. The product out of London, England sprinted to the left side of the post as her shot, which was initially stopped by Riancho, carried forward connecting with twine.
Mosengo now has five goals and one assist in two NCAA tournament games.
"Our ability to penetrate and manipulate their back three was a key to our success," Mosengo mentioned. "We also have an offense who is one of the best in the nation and were able to exploit some things tonight."
In the South Region Final match, fifth-seed West Florida picked up win in penalty kicks 3-1 over third-seed Lee.
The Eagles and Argonauts will face off in the South/Southeast Region Final on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2:00 p.m.
The 2017 Southeast Regional Women's Soccer Championship is hosted by Carson-Newman University. You can visit our Tournament Central page for all information and updates from the semifinal matches last weekend, and all three games for this weekend.
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