ROCK HILL, S.C. – The 14th-ranked and top-seeded Carson-Newman women's soccer team (18-2) completed the South Atlantic Conference sweep with a 1-0 win over the two-time defending champions Wingate Bulldogs (15-2-2) in the SAC Championship final Sunday night at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, S.C.
The Eagles won the SAC regular season title outright and picked up their fifth SAC Championship trophy with the win over the second-seed Bulldogs. The title was C-N's first in the SAC Championship since 2009. The win also tied the school record for longest win streak as the program has won 11 straight, tying the 11-0 start by the 2009 team. s
Senior Nikki McWilliams (Saintfield, Northern Ireland) scored the game-winning goal while freshman goalkeeper Jessica Fraiture (Hebron, Ky.) tied the school record with her 18th win in goal this season. Fraiture is the first Carson-Newman goalkeeper to shutout all three opponents en route to a conference title.
"Tactically, we had a plan. We've watched them play their way through the tournament and of course, we watched them play against Queens on Friday. We knew who the dangerous players were. For us, we were content with being patient and letting them have the ball and letting them play," coach Richard Moodie said. "Our midfield three controlled the park with Heida, Varin and shifting Averi with her versatility and shifting her into the middle of the park. I'm very excited about the way we played today. I actually thought that was one of our better games in a while. To round off the 2015 SAC Tournament with a performance like that before nationals, that's a great way to do it."
Carson-Newman's first scoring chance of the match came in the 17th-minute. A and yellow card to Wingate's Kaitlyn Brunworth set up a C-N free kick; freshma Varin Ness (Sogndal, Norway) took a shot off the free kick that deflected off the cross bar. The deflection was knocked around in the box and lifted into the air towards the right post; junior defender Nora Logan (Charlotte, N.C.) headed a shot that was destined for the back of the net, but Wingate cleared the ball off the line at the last second.
In the 38th-minute, a defensive clearance by freshman Averi Williams (Powell, Tenn.) helped set up the Eagles' goal. A Bulldog defender headed the ball to junior Julianne Herrity (Donegal, Ireland). Herrity settled the ball and made a few dribbles through the middle of the pitch. Herrity flicked the ball past the Wingate back line to McWilliams, who beat goalkeeper Alexis Jones with a shot to give the Eagles' a 1-0 lead at the half.
"It was a really tough goal. We kept the ball. Wingate was pressuring us. Jules won the ball and I just made the run inside. She made a phenomenal pass, chipped it over the defense and I just had to put it away. You don't get many chances against Wingate, so when you do, you have to put them away," McWilliams said.
McWilliams tallied the first shot of the second half with a slow roller that was saved by Jones.
Wingate finally recorded its first shot of the contest in the 56th-minute with an attempt from Caileigh Apicella that Fraiture saved.
A foul was called on Carson-Newman with four seconds left and a yellow card was issued to freshman Holly Talbut-Smith (Crawley, England) that set up a last ditch Bulldog attempt. Jones pushed forward to join the mass of players in the 18-yard box; a free kick from just in front of the midline was sent in and landed at the feet of Wingate's Taylor Leyble, who attempted a shot. Leyble's shot was blocked as the clock hit 0:00 and Carson-Newman celebrated its first SAC Championship title since 2009.
"Every program has a history. We've got plaques and trophies lying around everywhere at Carson-Newman. These kids came to play for me because I sold them on a vision on what we were going to do and they've all bought in to it and they've all listened. Here we are now at 18-2 and a team that only won three games last year," Moodie said. "Last year, we were a good team. We were just missing a few pieces. Now that we've got them, we've got to see how good we were. The coaching staff behind me has to take a lot of credit: Wayne Harvey, Sarah Tompkins, even our trainer Stephanie Cline. We've just got a great staff; they're all so caring about the girls. They do what is best for the team and there is a real family feel around us."
C-N outshot Wingate 7-3 with four of the Eagles' shots coming in the first half. The Eagles attempted three corner kicks while the Bulldogs did not have one set piece. Freshman Ness and McWilliams each had two shots on the day to lead all players. Fraiture made two saves in 90 minutes of scoreless play; Jones made two saves but allowed a goal in the loss.
Fraiture was joined by the All-Tournament team by Williams and fellow freshmen Heida Ragney (Akureyri, Iceland), and sophomore Helen Seed (Preston, England); Ragney was named the tournament's MVP.
The shutout was the first recorded by the Eagles in five SAC Championship appearances; C-N's record in SAC Championships is 3-0-2. The Eagles were also SAC Champions in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009.
Fraiture tied Melissa Terrell with her 18 win on the year; Terrell achieved the feat in 2004. Fraiture also tied the school record for clean sheets in a season with nine, which ties the mark set by Lauren Mackenzie in 2009 and Christine Furman in 1996.
The Eagles are assured a spot in the NCAA Tournament field of 48 that will be announced on Monday night at 6:30 p.m. Carson-Newman entered the week as the top-ranked team in the Southeast region, so the Eagles will most likely host the Southeast region tournament next weekend at McCown Field. CNeagles.com will have a full rundown of the NCAA Tournament on Monday night.
2015 All-Tournament Team
Heida Ragney- Carson-Newman (MVP)
Averi Williams-Carson-Newman
Helen Seed-Carson-Newman
Jessica Fraiture-Carson-Newman
Mackenzie Cherniuk-Wingate
Macy Franklin-Wingate
Katelyn Brunworth-Wingate
Logan Vitale- Queens
Jill Clark-Queens
Idoia Agirre- Anderson
Mariana Poveda-Anderson
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