JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the first time in 28 years, Carson-Newman and Montevallo will meet on the soccer pitch as the Eagles travel to Montevallo, Alabama tomorrow evening for a non-conference battle at 6:00 p.m.
For the first time in 28 years, Carson-Newman will face off against Montevallo. The only two meetings in the series came during the 1995 and 1996 seasons. Each facing each other at home and on the road. In the first ever meeting, C-N went on the road and secured a 1-0 overtime win over the Falcons. The next season, C-N played to a 1-1 draw in double-overtime at home.
Carson-Newman will try to break up a stretch where it has failed to win nine of its last ten games on the road. The Eagles only win on the road in 2023 was against Newberry on September 30th. They finished their road schedule just 1-5-2. Under Lyons, C-N has never lost its first two road games in a season. The last time that occurred was in 2014 and its only happened seven times since 1989.
This is the second of a three-game road stretch for C-N. The Eagles first loss of the season came at the hands of Young Harris on Sunday evening, just the second time a Lyons led team played a game on a Sunday. C-N conceded a goal in the 10th minute and was unable to find an equalizer. It continues a stretch of close losses dating back to last year, when C-N lost 1-0 on four different occasions. In head coach Stephen Lyons' first six seasons, C-N lost nine of its games by a 1-0 tally. It's happened five times in the past 18 games played. In fact, three of C-N's last four losses have come by a 1-0 score dating back to this past season.
Montevallo was picked to finish ninth in the Gulf South Conference's preseason coaches poll, earning 40 points. The low preseason ranking can be attributed to how the 2023 season went for UM. It finished the year with a 3-10-3 record, its first losing season since 2019. Excluding the Covid shortened 2021 season, it's the fewest wins the program has recorded in a full season.
Despite no returning players earning preseason All-GSC, Dominic Kienzle, Will Mashburn and Crisobal Porter were all selected to the GSC newcomer watchlist.
The Falcons have played a game both on the road and at a neutral site to begin 2024. Tomorrow will be UM's first home game. Its only recorded one win in its last nine home games.
The Falcons started their season coming back from three goals down with 35 minutes to play, scoring three times including twice in the final three minutes to tie with Catawba. Two days later, it turned around and defeated Belmont Abbey 1-0 on a neutral field. UM scored in the 87th minute to earn the one goal victory.
UM has scored four goals in two games, with three of those coming in the final three minutes of the game. Mark Shoebridge has scored in both games, while Seth Acton and Sebastian Flores have both scored goals as well. Porter has an assist in both games.
The matchup against C-N will be the second opportunity to defeat a South Atlantic Conference team this season. It's third and final chance will be against Anderson on Sept 18. The Falcons are on a four-game unbeaten streak against SAC schools, with their last loss coming to Anderson in 2017.
First touch from Montevallo, Alabama is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. A live stream of the game is available with a subscription to FloSports.
Fans can also follow along by following @CN_Eagles on X (Twitter) and Instagram for in-game updates.
