JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Trying to shake off defeats in their last two games, the Carson-Newman men's soccer team takes their show on the road to Hickory, N.C. as they visit conference rival Lenoir-Rhyne on Wednesday evening for a 4:30pm match at Moretz Sports-Athletic Complex.
"It's a chance for us to get back on track," Soccer Coach Ricahrd Moodie said. "We've been a bit unlucky of late, but it's a new day. We're on the road one last time in September and have a chance to get another win in conference play."
The Eagles last two games have been South Atlantic Conference contests that they've dropped on late goals. The first game against Mars Hill saw them fight back from 2-0 down to tie the score, only to allow the game-winner in the 88th minute. Three days later, they were in Charlotte, N.C. to play Queens and were tied 1-1 at the half, but the Royals found a goal in the 77th minute, which led to them picking up three points. C-N's 1-2 SAC record has them tied for 9th in the conference with L-R and Newberry, but the Eagles and Bears have only played three conference games, while every other team in the conference has played four. These two losses have put the group's overall record at 4-3 after they started the slate 4-1.
Tom Read (London, England) is the team leader in goals with three, a total he added to against Queens by directing a free kick past the keeper. Read also has a SAC-best seven assists, a total which ranks him second in the nation, and 13 points, tied for the most in the league. As a team, the Eagles have collected 17 goals so far in 2016, tied for the most in the conference and their goals for average is second, behind only Wingate. They also average 16.9 shots-per-game, the most in the SAC.
Freshman Joe Boyd (Nottingham, England) has been the team's workhorse in goal, starting all seven games in his first collegiate season. Boyd and the C-N defense have combined to produce the fourth-lowest goals against average in the SAC and allow the third fewest goals. Boyd's GAA is tied for the third lowest in the South Atlantic. Boyd's seven starts are the most by Carson-Newman freshman goaltender since Jordan Moore started 17 games in 2007.
On Saturday, Lenoir-Rhyne fell to Lincoln Memorial by a score of 1-0, their third loss in five games after a 2-0-1 start. Those three losses also included a 2-1 setback against Tusculum on September 17th. The Bears' one conference loss was a 3-0 defeat of Catawba on the 21st. L-R has been a formidable opponent at home this year, which is borne out in their 3-0-1 record in Hickory. They're also capable offensively, as their 17 goals ties them with Carson-Newman for the most in the conference and their 47 points lead the league. The Bears also keep the referee busy during each match, as their 23 yellow cards are the SAC's second most.
Ismael Noumansana, has been Lenoir-Rhyne's biggest weapon so far this year, as he is tied for the SAC lead in goals and points. The junior was a preseason first-team All-SAC selection after leading the Bears with eight goals and 19 points in 2015, totals he seems intent on bettering this season. Noumansana scored twice in his school's victory over the Eagles last season. Sophomore Marc Fernandez has been the team's leader in the assist category with four, a total which also ties him for third in the SAC.
Their starting goalkeeper for all eight games has been junior Zach King, who is in his second season as L-R's starting net-minder. He helped lead his team to an 8-8-2 mark last year and a 5-5-1 SAC record. So far this year, King has earned a trio of clean sheets and sits in the league's top five in several categories. He's currently third in saves with 36 and his save percentage of .783 and goals against average of 1.22 have landed him in fifth.
Carson-Newman will be attempting to avenge a loss to the Bears last year in which they took an early 2-0 lead, but allowed L-R to come back and win the match 3-2, with Noumansana netting the game winner in the 81st minute. The Eagles do lead the all-time series 19-14 with two ties. Prior to last season's meeting, C-N had won six of the previous seven encounters.
After full-time on Wednesday, a recap of the day's action will be online at cneagles.com.
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