VIDEO: Thaylan Silva Interview
ROCK HILL, S.C. – With four goals scored this past week, Thaylan Silva has garnered South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors, as announced by the league on Tuesday morning.
This is the first weekly honor for the senior in his career, marking the second laurel for the program this season.
"To be honest, coming up to this week, we knew we had to change," Silva said. "Losing to Anderson last week was a big shock for us. We had to come back strong; that's what we did. We played both games with a lot of intensity, we scored the goals we needed, so I'm just happy we got the two wins."
The São Paulo, Brazil native netted a brace in both of Carson-Newman's wins this past week with two of his goals coming off of set pieces. With a converted penalty kick in the win at Newberry on Saturday, Silva became the program's leader for career penalty kicks attempted and made, going a perfect 6-6 in his time with the Eagles. This season, he has gone 3-3 from the penalty spot. This season, he has produced three multi-goal outings, the only Eagle with multiple-goal performances to his name. Before last week, his previous one came with a hat trick over Erskine on Sept. 8.
Penalty King ��
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) October 18, 2021
Thaylan Silva has been a trusty pick from the penalty spot in his @CNmenssoccer career. pic.twitter.com/SR5E94ib2k
Wednesday's trip to Lincoln Memorial saw Silva open up a 4-0 win with the first two goals of the match. A foul on the 'Splitters just over the right side of the 18-yard box gave Silva a free kick in the 27th minute. He arched the shot over a wall of 'Splitters, past a diving Jackson Jalovec and into the back right corner of the net for a 1-0 lead. He struck again in the 67th minute after a quick Harry Whitehead (Oxford, England) that he pushed over to an oncoming Silva inside the 6-yard box for a falling touch that connected.
At Newberry, Silva sandwiched the Orange and Blue scoring in a 3-1 victory. He got the group on the board in the 32nd minute following a Newberry free kick that was caught by netminder Bram Kaarsgaren (Den Bosch, The Netherlands). His long clearance toss was picked up by Silva, evading three Wolves on his way to a goal from just inside the 18-yard box. He sealed the deal with the record-setting PK in the 52nd minute.
"We always talk, everyone in the front, that the chances will come, everyone will have their opportunity," Silva said. "So that's what I always tell Harry, Nic Carsh, Quinten Carels, Benjamin Stein, that the time will come, the chance will come so just be calm. Having them also in helping me, that's really good. And Bram, that was an amazing pass. He told me that after the pass, he was like, 'Please, Thay, don't pass, just score so I can get the assist,' so I'm just happy that I could help them."
Through 12 matches this season, Silva leads the team in scoring with 21 points on nine goals and three assists. He is fifth in the SAC for both goals and points while sitting at 22nd and 23rd in the nation, respectively. Three of his goals have gone down as game-winners, also a team-high and is tied for most in the league and 15th nationally.
Silva is one of three Eagles to score in multiple matches this season, netting goals in back-to-back games twice. His first pair of goal-scoring matches came in the third and fourth contests of the season against Erskine and Mars Hill, respectively.
Silva and the rest of the Eagles are back at home on Saturday for a senior day showdown with Coker. That match will begin at 2:30 p.m. from the friendly confines of McCown Field. Fans who cannot make it to the banks of Mossy Creek can enjoy a live broadcast courtesy of the Eagle Sports Network by visiting cneagles.com/live.
