CLEVELAND, Tenn.- The Carson-Newman (2-1-1) men's soccer team battled back twice Saturday evening to tie Lee (2-0-1) at 2.
"Again, another very good performance overall," Coach Stephen Lyons said. "After a slow start, we adjusted well and worked our way back into the game. The lads have been putting big minutes and maximum efforts and the attitude has been phenomenal. We rest up and prepare for a big conference test Wednesday.'
Lee got out to a quick start as Sagi Rada found Fabian Navarro for a 2nd minute to put the Flames up early. Senior Jakob Lechner had an answer, as he sent a shot in the top right corner of the goal, to level the score up in the 18th minute. The Flames had a response, Shachar Nissim fired a shot in the low left corner to put the Flames back ahead 2-1 in the 24thminute.
The Eagles trailed at the half, recording five shots, and scored on their only shot on goal in the first half. C-N's defense stayed strong and kept the team within just one goal. The Eagles took advantage of a free kick, as C-N's Niels Buurman scored on a shot that went into the lower left part of the goal to tie the game up at 2 in the 70th minute. Senior Willem Kruijk was credited with the assist. Each team got just one shot the rest of the way, and the match ended in a hard fought 2-2 draw.
The goals by Buurman and Lechner were their first career goals. Those two shots were the only shots that C-N had on goal in the match. Kruijk and Nic Carsh each tied for the team lead with two shots.
Senior goalkeeper Darin De Meza got the start in goal and recorded one save. The Eagles were outshot 14-8, with 11 of those Lee shots coming in the first half of action. The match was fairly physical, the Eagles committed 16 fouls, to Lee's 15. The Flames received three yellow cards to C-N's two.
The match goes down as the first tie of the season for both teams. Its just the 2nd time under Coach Lyons that his team has tied when trailing at halftime.
Seven starters played all 90 minutes for C-N. Eight different players have combined to score the nine goals this season for Carson-Newman
The Eagles begin conference play on the road Wednesday taking on Limestone.
