Video: Emilee Futrell Interview
NEWBERRY, S.C. – No. 15 Carson-Newman collected its sixth-straight win on the season and remains undefeated in South Atlantic Conference play after topping the Newberry Wolves 3-1 at the Smith Road Complex on Wednesday afternoon.
The Eagles (6-2, 4-0) also extended its winning streak against the Wolves (4-4, 0-4) which balloons to five games as C-N has outscored Newberry 14-4 during the span.
"This was the most important game so far because it was the game today," Coach Simon Duffy said. "It's hard to win games on the road in this league but we just put a stranglehold on them and didn't let them play. Credit to Newberry for never stopping for one second. Just good to win another one on the road."
C-N struck first just four minutes into the match as Holly Talbut-Smith (Crawley, England) streaked up the right side of the box and dumped a pass to Magda Mosengo (London, England) on the doorstep for the senior forwards ninth goal of 2018. Mosengo was tied for third in the nation in goals and sixth in points entering the day. Talbut-Smith registered her fourth assist of the year on the senior to senior connection, moving her career total to 27, just four off the second-place spot in the history of the program.
Duffy's squad has scored within the first 12 minutes of the match in five out of the last six outings.
C-N carried the lead 1-0 into the half allowing just one shot from the Newberry side while ripping off 11 of their own.
Sophomore Emilee Futrell (Wilson, N.C.) connected for her seventh goal of the campaign in the 58th minute to make it 2-0 following a multitude of chances for the C-N side including a penalty kick from Mosengo that was shut down by Newberry goalkeeper Jayleen Gant. The sophomore netminder was peppered throughout the afternoon as the Eagles let off 33 shots, nine of which Gant was called into action.
Mosengo linked up with Futrell at the top of the 18-yard box for her second helper of the year.
"Our midfield really put in some great balls in order for us especially with our movement up top," Futrell said. "They all made incredible plays for us in order to create some opportunities. We had some good link-up plays in the first half but we executed a lot better to open up the second half."
Following two different scenarios in which Elena Propst (Maiden, N.C.) elected to pass up a shot, the freshman forward didn't hesitate on the third chance when she received a feed from Futrell and sent a volley past Gant for her second goal as an Eagle.
"She's capable of a lot of things," Duffy said. "She has speed and tenacity and is learning every day but it was a great ball from Emilee as well on that play. Delighted for her."
The Eagles have two players atop the total point's category in the league with Mosengo leading the way with 22 and Futrell at 17.
C-N pushes the all-time series lead in encounters with the Wolves to 20-6 overall and 6-4 on the road.
Over the past three seasons for the program, C-N is 31-3-2 against conference opponents over the last three regular-season meetings outscoring opponents 117-26. Including SAC Tournament matches, the record improves to 40-3-2 with a mind-blowing difference of 137-28.
The Eagles have the upcoming weekend off before returning to McCown Field next Wednesday, Oct. 3 to face Tusculum. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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