VIDEO: Richard Moodie Interview
VIDEO: Julianne Herrity Interview
VIDEO: Highlights and Celebration
ROCK HILL, S.C. – For the second consecutive season, the Carson-Newman women's soccer team (16-3-1) has brought home the hardware, as they knocked off the Wingate Bulldogs (12-6-1), 2-1, in Sunday's South Atlantic Conference Tournament final to claim their second straight SAC title and the sixth in the program's history.
"It feels great," coach Richard Moodie said. "It's unreal. It won't sink in, at least until Monday, but I think it's amazing what these girls have done over the last two years. I was told by a wise man to build a foundation and survive and advance. That's what we've been doing ang these last two years, we looked like the dominant force in the South Atlantic Conference and I think we deserved it."
"It's an amazing feeling," senior forward Julianne Herrity (Donegal, Ireland) said. "You can't really desribe it. We fought to the very end. It was a close game, but we did what we came to so, we couldn't be happier with it."
The Eagles jumped out the early lead in the 15th minute. Alex Brandan (Knoxville, Tenn.) made a run towards Wingate's 18-yard box before passing off to Varin Ness (Sogndal, Norway). Ness flicked the ball on to Herrity, who fired a right footed shot past keeper Alexis Jones, putting C-N ahead.
"We worked the ball into the box," Herrity said," and Varin left it for me and I just caught it perfect. Last year we played a little bit differently, but this year, we knew we could jump on them from the start. That's what we treid to do for the first ten minutes, go at them and it's worked."
It wasn't long before the Eagles lit up the scoreboard again to move ahead 2-0. A great run by Lara Hallgrimsdottir (Kopavogur, Iceland) down the center of the pitch moved the action towards Wingate's net. Hallgrimsdottir found Holly Talbut-Smith (Crawley, England), who started a perfect give-and-go with Ness. Talbut-Smith got the ball back as she was charging towards the net from the left side and her volley with her right foot found the net and doubled Carson-Newman's advantage.
After a second half that was scoreless for more than 30 minutes, Wingate broke the C-N defense in the 80th minute, when Kimmi Moore's shot from the top of the box beat Jacqueline Burns (Cookstown, Northern Ireland), cutting the Eagle lead to just one. This was the first score that Carson-Newman conceded in the SAC Tournament.
The game's last ten minutes had a furious pace, as Wingate fought to tie the score, but the C-N defense, as they've done all year, held firm and refused to give up the equalizer. The Eagles allowed just four shots on goal all day in earning their 14th shutout of the season.
"We knew as the game wore on," coach Moodie said, "[Wingate] was going to get more confidence and push and we just had to weather the storm and I think we did a great job. We were defensively disciplined. I still think we created a lot of good chances in the second half. Great game, we're just glad to be the winners."
For the second straight year, Heida Ragney (Akureyri, Iceland) was named Tournament MVP and Ragney was joined on the All-Tournament team by Brandan, Magda Mosengo (London, England) and Helen Seed (Preston, England).
"We were playing against good teams," Ragney said. "I try to do my best becasue we need everyone to do their best. I think in our supporting group, everyone did well, so I just try to do the same."
With the win, the Eagles also clinched an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament field of 48. Their seeding, along with the rest of the field will be announced on Monday night at 6:30 p.m. More information will be available on cneagles.com on Monday night.
-CN-
