Anderson, S.C. – The No. 9 ranked Carson-Newman Eagles dominated 90 minutes of play on Saturday afternoon after defeating Anderson 3-0 at Trojan Stadium pushing their unbeaten streak to 9 games.
"Great win on the road, excellent performance and a clean sheet from the squad today," said head coach Simon Duffy. "Proud of the way we played out there today."
Junior forward Holly-Talbut Smith, who notched the game winner on Wednesday vs. Clayton State, opened up the scoring in the 16th minute when she chipped in a Lauren Wade cross for her 5th goal of the 2017 campaign.
The Eagles (8-0-1, 4-0-1 SAC) received another chance in the 26th minute when the senior Wade was taken down in the box, ultimately being awarded a penalty kick for her efforts. The attempt for the Coleraine, Northern Ireland native, was stopped by Anderson goalkeeper Abby Helm, but not before sophomore Jaidyn Zapf got a quick jump off the line slamming the ball home off the rebound for her third goal of the year. Wade was credited with an assist on the sequence.
Nearing the end of the first half, Anderson (2-5-1, 1-3 SAC) would have their own chance at a penalty kick after a 50/50 ball floated into the corner of the 18-yard box. C-N net minder Jackie Burns rushed to where the ball was heading, making a sliding attempt to corral the ball in and away from the Trojans' forward. The referee deemed the play unnecessary, awarding Anderson with a chance to cut the deficit to one with just over 30 seconds remaining.
Junior midfielder Lexxi Longmore lined up for the kick aiming for the lower right side of the net, but Burns poised to prevent any momentum shift, made a diving attempt to her left deflecting the ball off frame and ultimately bringing it in after it glanced off the post. It would be the lone shot for Anderson in the first 45 minutes.
Sophomore Lara Hallgrimsdottir sealed the team's third road win of the season when a play to the edge of the goal line by a familiar face in Lauren Wade found the foot of the midfielder, who was left with an easy finish right out in front of the net. Wade tallied her 8th assist and 18th point of the season to lead all South Atlantic Conference players in both categories.
The All-American forward is the first Eagle to tally three assists in one contest, since she accomplished the same feat on Sept. 10 of 2016 in a 10-0 rout of Francis Marion
The Eagles outshot the Trojans 21-5 on the afternoon, marking the sixth time this season the team has allowed five shots or less and outshot their opponents by 15 or more.
Abby Helm stopped eight shots on the day totaling 50 on the year which puts her at second in the SAC. Burns tallied three saves and is remains first in the league in shutouts.
Carson-Newman returns to McCown Field after the two game road trip when they host Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
"It's important to keep it going as the Railsplitters come to our place," added Duffy.
