Simon Duffy Interview:
Makayla Garner Interview:
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn - Freshman Makayla Garner (Fort Mill, S.C.) scored a brace as the No. 21 Carson-Newman Eagles defeated the Young Harris Mountain Lions on Sunday afternoon at McCown Field.
"Just delighted to get the win," head coach Simon Duffy said. "Home opener here against a very good Young Harris side. It was important to pick up where we left off against Bellarmine and we did that."
Play at home began at a blistering pace offensively for the Eagles (1-1). A foul inside the box by Young Harris (0-2) resulted in a penalty awarded in the 2nd minute, which was knocked home on the lower-left corner by Lara Hallgrimsdottir (Kopavogur, Iceland).
Garner happened to be at the right place at the right time for both of her goals. Her first collegiate goal from the middle of the field near the 18-yard box rang home past junior goalie Pien Van Kampen to put C-N up by a pair of goals in the 13th minute. Later in the 29th minute, a shot from junior defense Kristina Markfort (Munster, Germany) that resulted in a deflection by Vam Kampen was able to be tapped in by Garner on the left-hand side.
"We have been working on making runs in practice and my teammates just put good balls in and I was able to finish them off," Garner said.
Young Harris' lone goal by way of freshman Juliana Alarcon came off of a corner in the 66th minute after a misplay of the ball near the right side of the net squeaked out of bounds, allowing Young Harris at attempt at a cross into the box.
Sophomore Elena Propst (Maiden, N.C.) raced all over the left side of the field for the Eagles, setting the pace in shots on goal with three in the contest. Senior forward Delaney Griffin (Franklin, Tenn.) also played a vital role in setting the tone offensively with a number of crosses into the box that resulted in scoring opportunities. Griffin ended the contest with four shots, two of which were on target.
"We could (potentially) have scored a few more," Duffy said. "But to get to three and get the win was vital, and just our movement and everything was good. How quickly we played and how quickly we moved the ball was much, much better today."
C-N outshot Young Harris by a 19 to eight margin. The Eagles also attempted three corners to the Mountain Lions' two.
Yellow cards were assessed to a pair of seniors in Allie-Anne Blackburn (Franklin, Tenn.) and Sydney Spadafora (Collierville, Tenn.) for excessive contact. Both registered a solo shot as well.
Game two of a five-game homestand for C-N continues Friday when the Eagles take on Lee at 7 p.m.
