JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Freshman Holly Talbut-Smith's (Crawley, England) first game in the Orange and Blue was a memorable one as she tallied the game-winning goal in the 86th-minute to lift the Eagles to a 2-1 victory over the Trevecca Nazarene Trojans Thursday afternoon at McCown Field.
Talbut-Smith took a through ball from sophomore Camilla Olsson (Trondheim, Norway) and beat Trojans keeper Liz Denton for her first-career game-winner.
Carson-Newman won its first season opener since 2011 with the victory and also recorded its first-ever victory over Trevecca after losing two games and tying once in the three previous meetings in the series.
"All credit to the girls; the girls on the field, the girls on the bench were fantastic behind the team. Maybe not the prettiest game that we have played, but by all means, the result was fantastic," coach Richard Moodie said. "We never stopped playing. A little bit sluggish but we saw a lot of possession."
Olsson started the scoring in the after she stole the ball away from a Trevecca defender at the top of the 18-yard box and slid it between the Trojans' keeper's legs for her first goal of the season and to give the Eagles an early 1-0 lead in the 11th minute.
Olsson finished the game with a goal and an assist in her sophomore debut.
Trevecca answered late in the first half. Diana Corzine crossed the ball into the six-yard box and the ball deflected off the post and landed into the net to tie the contest at 1-1 at the half.
The score held at 1-1 for the first 40 minutes of the second half until Talbut-Smith's tally.
After Talbut-Smith's goal, Carson-Newman had to withstand a flurry of attacks from the Trojans. Trevecca sent a free kick with seven seconds left from 55 yards out that was headed away to seal the Eagles' victory.
Freshman goalkeeper Jessica Fraiture (Hebron, Ky.) recorded her first career win in goal with four saves in 90 minutes of action.
Carson-Newman outshot Trevecca 20 to seven during the game. Freshman Alex Brandan (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Olsson both recorded four shots during the game. Talbut-Smith and freshman Averi Williams (Powell, Tenn.) both recorded three shots in the contest.
The Eagles started six freshman in the line-up in the season opener.
"It means to these girls. We have talked all preseason. There has been a goal in mind. And they deserve to be 1-0. I thought we were the better team. Truthfully, the girls are playing fantastic. A little bit off today like I said, but you see some of the moments we have with the ball, it's going to be a good season for these girls."
The Eagles return to McCown Field on Saturday afternoon with a 4 p.m. contest against the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers.
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