JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.- Carson-Newman (1-1-2) battled back after conceding a first-half goal to tie Nova Southeastern (1-0-1) at 1.
"We just said it to the girls, we are a good team, but we can be so much more effective if we have that intensity in both halves," Coach Simon Duffy said. "Unfortunate to go down, we got pulled out of position a bit and Nova is such a good team, they move it so quickly and efficiently. To comeback, in the second half, upped the intensity a bit. Coming away from that one 1-1, I'm not disappointed."
C-N came out of the gates aggressive offensively. Because of the intensity up front, freshman Maja Bengtsson displayed quality dribbling as she worked her way into the box and was fouled, giving the Eagles a penalty kick opportunity in the sixth minute. Senior Addie Henry would take the penalty kick but her shot attempt was saved by goalkeeper Stefane Rosa to keep the game scoreless. Rosa had a spectacular day in goal, finishing with seven saves.
Nova Southeastern would strike first in the 25th minute as Jordyn Pitter sent a ball into the back of the net off an assist from Louise Matsgard and Chama Silva to put the Sharks up 1-0. The goal was Pitter's first of the season.
The Eagles went into the halftime break trailing 1-0. C-N would begin to build pressure as the second half went along, as a sophomore Nellie Bryneus took a corner kick that was headed by sophomore Sydnee Duncan but wide right and out of bounds. Just five minutes later, the Eagles would take advantage of what would be another corner kick. Junior Molly Bukiewicz fired a corner kick into the box that was deflected a few times, before sophomore Alisha Heiniger found space off the deflection and sent the ball into the lower left corner of goal to tie the game at 1 in the 73rd minute. Heiniger scored her 2nd career goal, both of which have been second half equalizers.
"I have to say, I'm lucky I was in the right place and right time," Heiniger said. "We press the opponent to get those corners and free kicks that we can really press. I was lucky to score and I'm really happy to help the team."
Both teams had a few chances in the final 17 minutes of action, but the game would end in a draw.
"We all said at half that we really want to win," Heiniger said. "I'm really glad I scored the equalizer. But, I think if we show up from the beginning of the game, we can be even more dangerous."
C-N outshot Nova Southeastern 16-10, with half of those shots on goal. The Eagles also had more corner kicks than the Sharks, 7-4.
ll six goals this season have been scored in the second half. C-N maintains its streak of consecutive matches at home without a loss, to eight.
Freshman Laura Germes got the start and recorded a career high three saves.
The Eagles get the week off before beginning SAC play on Saturday against Anderson.
