Jefferson City, Tenn. – Two, three-game homestands and five bouts with squads that played in the 2011 NCAA tournament mark Carson-Newman's Women's Soccer program's 2012 schedule.

Three of the five tournament participants come in non-conference play.  After opening the regular season August 31 with a tournament at Queens College in Charlotte, N.C., the Eagles play back-to-back games against teams that tangled for the title. 

The Eagles travel to Banner Elk, N.C. to battle with Lees-McCrae September 8, before returning home September 12 to square off with North Georgia. 

While first-year women's soccer coach Richard Moodie didn't set the Eagles' 2012 campaign, he said he's looking forward to the challenges ahead.

"Playing against national competition, you recognize that Carson-Newman is a power," Moodie said. "My point is that we have to play against the tougher competition to stay on the map."

South Atlantic Conference play begins September 15 with a road game at Newberry.

"Our conference definitely prepares you for an NCAA appearance," Moodie said. "It's a very competitive conference and is arguably one of the best in Division II for sure."

CN finishes the season with three-in-a-row at home leading up to a senior day showdown with Mars Hill, October 27. 

"We're not going to back down from anybody," Moodie said. "There were so many games that were won and lost in the last 5 minutes.  There are so many games that we could have won and should have won. It will be tough to keep tough competition on the schedule if we can't compete and perform at that level, but I don't think that's going to be a problem."

In 2011, the Eagles went 5-11-1; all but one victory came at McCown Field.

-CN-