VIDEO: Stephen Lyons Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the second time this season, Carson-Newman (2-3-3, 1-1-1 SAC) will square off with a ranked foe when it travels to #5 Limestone (6-0-1, 4-0 SAC) on Sunday afternoon for a conference affair at 4:00 p.m.
Not only is it the second time facing a ranked foe, but the matchup also happens to be the second time facing the #5 team in the country. Back on Sept 19, C-N played to a scoreless tie with #5 Auburn Montgomery at McCown Field. It will be the second time under Stephen Lyons, that he will see his team face two top ten teams in the same season. In 2017, the Eagles faced #5 Lenoir-Rhyne and #7 Young Harris and went 1-1.
"It should help," Carson-Newman men's soccer head coach Stephen Lyons said. "The energy and effort levels in that game and even before it against West Alabama were the levels we need to be at to compete. We want to play the best teams that are nationally ranked, and Limestone certainly deserves to be where they are. We are going to need to be on our game to get a result."
The 2013 season is the last time Carson-Newman faced two top five squads in the same season. Those matchups came during the magical postseason run against #4 Rollins and #2 Southern New Hampshire. The Eagles have never faced two top five teams during the same regular season.
The Eagles lead the all-time series 4-2-2, with both losses in the series coming in the past two meetings. The first all-time meeting came during the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament in 1997. The Eagles won that matchup 2-0. With the Saints joining the South Atlantic Conference in 2020, the two teams have played every season since.
Midfielder Mitchell Honcoop is the leader of the offense through eight matches. His four goals scored are fifth-most in the SAC and 48th most nationally. His 11 points are sixth in the league.
After tying with Young Harris in the season opener, Limestone has been unbeatable over its last six matches. The Saints have won six straight matches, tied for the fourth-longest active winning in DII men's soccer. During the six-game winning streak, the Saints have not allowed a goal and have outscored their opponents 20-0.
"We knew they were quality last year and they've added to it," Lyons said. "It's been on both sides of the ball. Six clean sheets, just the two goals conceded. That is what wins you titles, being solid defensively with the type of scoring output they've had as well."
In conference games, it has been even tougher for opponents to win. Limestone has won nine straight South Atlantic Conference games, the second-longest active conference winning streak, trailing only Charleston (WV) who has won 18 straight games. This includes their SAC Tournament Championship run in 2023. In their four conference wins this season, they have knocked off two top ten teams in Coker and Wingate, winning both games by a 1-0 tally. Limestone has won its past two games versus Newberry and Catawba by a 15-0 mark.
Ali Al Gashamy's teams have only lost two home games over the course of his two plus seasons in Gaffney. In regular season home games, they currently have a 13-match unbeaten streak. The Saints' last loss at home in the regular season came against Wingate on Oct 5th, 2022. - The fourth-best scoring offense in the country is led by Mark Radoki who has a team-high five goals and 12 points. Six other Saints have scored multiple goals. Claudel N'goubou has four goals and three assists to follow behind Radoki's lead. Five others have scored two goals. The offense averages more than three goals per match.
One of the best offenses in the country is paired with one of the best defenses as well. No team has a better goal differential than the Saints who are a +20 on the season. The Saints have six shutouts in seven games, the best shutout percentage in the country. Nickolaj Bertelsen has five shutouts himself, with 20 saves in seven starts.
First touch is set for 4:00 p.m. A live stream of the game is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/flomsoc.
Fans can also follow along by following @CN_Eagles on X (Twitter) and Instagram for in-game updates.
