Salisbury, N.C. – The 9th-ranked Carson-Newman women's soccer team remains unbeaten through 11 games after defeating the Catawba College Catawba Indians by a final of 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.
It is just the second time in the program's history that the team has accomplished an 11-game unbeaten streak to begin a season, with the program record checking in at 12 games from the 2009 season.
After missing the contest against Lincoln Memorial earlier in the week, it didn't take long for Holly Talbut-Smith to pick back up where she left off. The junior out of Crawley, England checked into the contest in the 25th minute and less than five minutes later, she slotted home her sixth goal of the season.
C-N (10-0-1, 6-0-1 SAC) stretched the field as goalkeeper Jackie Burns sent a long ball towards junior Magda Mosengo who headed the ball perfectly in stride, onto the foot of Talbut-Smith who calmly put the Eagles on the board for the eventual game winner. It is her third game-winning goal of the season.
Talbut-Smith's six goals on the campaign put her in a five-way tie for the conference lead, which holds three Eagles in that same category. The tally also marked her 17th point of the season which is good for second-place in the league behind teammate Lauren Wade.
The Eagles were given a gift in the in the opening minutes of the second half when a Lara Hallgrimstoddir free kick was fumbled by Catawba net minder Shelby Thompson. Defender Helen Seed, who was in the near vicinity, capitalized on the loose ball to connect with her second goal of the season.
Thompson ended the day with nine saves for the Catawba Indians (5-5, 3-2 SAC) marking a season-high for the junior. Burns faced eight shots on the afternoon stopping four, adding to her shutout total of the season which now sits at four games. Burns and Jasmine Rizk combined to shutout Lees-McRae earlier this season putting the total clean sheets in 2017 for C-N at five. The sophomore Burns now has 18.1 shutouts so far 33 career games.
After consecutive corner kicks by Lauren Wade, a third attempt was given to C-N as the ball sent in found junior defender Averi Williams who promptly connected with the senior Seed for her second goal of the match. Williams was credited with her first helper of the season adding to the nation's leader in assists with 35.
Seed, a native of Preston, England, notched the first two-goal game of her career. Her three goals in 2017 marks a new career-high since she last scored two during her freshman season.
The Eagles outshot the Catawba Indians 19-8 marking the tenth time this season the team has outshot their opponent. The lone game the team failed to do so came after a tie to Lenoir-Rhyne in which the teams ended with the same number of shots.
Carson-Newman has a full week to prepare for the only undefeated team in conference play in the Wingate Bulldogs. With today's win however, the Eagles climb into first-place in the conference standings leading the Bulldogs by one point.
Senior night at McCown Field next Saturday, Oct. 14 is set for a 5:00 p.m. start.
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