Eagles remain in top-25 following end of year polls

Division II Women's Soccer Final Rankings

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Following a 15-4-1 season, the Carson-Newman Women's Soccer program sits at No. 22 in the country in the United Soccer Coaches final postseason rankings released on Thursday morning. 

Under head coach Simon Duffy, C-N began the year at No. 2 after a 2017 run to the national title match. After falling out of the top-25 in the first two weeks of the season, the Eagles stayed inside the top-25 for the rest of the campaign with pit stops at five different spots inside the top-20. C-N entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 16 team in the nation and the southeast region's second seed.

Three region teams finished the year in the top-25 with Lee University the highest at No. 4, a team C-N beat earlier this season. Columbus State checked in at No. 6 with Lincoln Memorial at No. 18.

Duffy's group defeated the Catawba Indians in the Southeast Region Quarterfinal match before bowing out to LMU in the semifinal meeting.

Despite a year that fell short of expectations, C-N was able to gather its fourth-consecutive South Atlantic Conference Regular Season Championship. Three Eagles were also named USC All-Americans in a single season for the first time in program history after an appearance from Averi Williams on the first-team squad with Jackie Burns and Magda Mosengo holding spots on the third-team. It's marked the fourth-straight season C-N has had at least one All-American. Additionally, five Eagles earned USC All-Region honors with four on the first-team, the most of any team in the region.

Seven Eagles also procured All-SAC honors with Mosengo and Williams winning Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the league.

"In reality, nothing other than winning the national championship this year would've been an improvement on the goals and standards we set for ourselves," Duffy said. "I'm happy with the team's efforts throughout the season but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. Very proud to still be honored in the final poll but now we focus on 2019."

-CN-