JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – With two games already in the win column in 2016, the Carson-Newman women's soccer team starts a string of four straight road games on Tuesday when they travel to play Alabama-Huntsville at 1pm.
The Eagles have begun the season with victories at Trevecca Nazarene and at home against Lees-McRae. Both contests began with C-N jumping out in front on early goals by Julianne Herrity (Donegal, Ireland). The reigning SAC Player of the Year scored 37 seconds into the season opener at Trevecca and tallied just 88 seconds in against Lees-McRae. Herrity added a second goal later in the first half to give her three on the season, which is currently tied for the most in SAC. Herrity also picked up an assist against Lees-McRaem, giving her five points for the match, the most by a Carson-Newman player in one game since 2011.
Both of the Eagles wins have also included goals from newcomer Lauren Wade (Coleraine, Northern Ireland) and sophomore Varin Ness (Sogndal, Norway) has racked up three assists, the most among all SAC players.
In goal, freshman keeper Jacqueline Burns (Cookstown, Northern Ireland) has allowed just one goal in her first two games and earned a shutout against Lees-McRae. In two games, she has five saves to her credit.
Huntsville has only been on the pitch once in 2016 and they fell 1-0 to Alabama A&M at home. They did get three saves from goalkeeper Larae Breaux in the loss.
The Chargers, who play in the Gulf South Conference, were picked to finish 10th in their league's preseason poll. Last year's team compiled a 6-9-2 record and were 3-8-1 in conference. Alabama-Huntsville entered 2016 having lost four of their top five scorers from 2015, with junior Alexcia Alexander, who tied for the team lead with eight goals, being the only returner.
The Eagles and Chargers are playing for the fourth straight season and neither team has an edge over the past three years, as each team has one win and they've also played to a draw.
Last year's match saw Carson-Newman get goals from Megan Peterson (Parrish, Fla.), Gabrielle Gianeselli (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Nikki McWilliams in a 3-1 triumph. The 2014 game was won by UAH in overtime, while the teams went to double overtime in 2013, but couldn't resolve a 1-1 tie.
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