HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The fourth-ranked Carson-Newman women's soccer team has finished the regular season unbeaten for the first time in program history, after defeating the Coker Cobras 5-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Only one team in the history of the South Atlantic Conference finished the regular season unbeaten, and it came in 1999 when former conference member Presbyterian College accomplished the feat. PC left the SAC following the 2006 season.
"One of our goals this season was obviously to win the league title, but we also did not want to lose at home and be undefeated on the road," Coach Simon Duffy stated. "Lengthy expectations as it's never been done before, but it just goes to show that this group is really special and driven."
Just two minutes into the match, Holly Talbut-Smith was shoved down in the box, giving C-N their third chance of the season at a penalty kick.
Previously 0 for 2 on their chances in 2017, sophomore Lara Hallgrimsdottir lined up for the first penalty kick opportunity of her career.
The Kopavogur, Iceland native took four steps and sent a bullet to the right side of the net, past a diving Samantha Hoffman for her fifth goal of the year, as it proved to be the game winner. Three of Hallgrimsdottir's six career goals have been game winners.
The Eagles quickly made it 2-0 in the 16th minute when Holly Talbut-Smith sent a pass towards Lauren Wade at the top of the 18-yard box who took one touch to her left and fired a left-footed shot into the back of the net for her 10th goal of the year.
Talbut-Smith recorded her ninth assist so far this season, tying for the conference lead with her own teammate in Wade and creeping into the top-10 in all of Division II.
After the Eagles were awarded a corner kick in the 30th minute, Lauren Wade sent in the cross finding Magda Mosengo at the far post in the 8-yard box.
Mosengo's jumping volley was centered to the front of the goal finding the head of junior Catarina Realista, who collected her first goal since Sept. 23 in a 4-2 victory over Queens. The header marked her third goal of the campaign.
The Eagles (14-0-1, 9-0-1 SAC) kept things rolling to open the second half, when Magda Mosengo sent a through ball to the left side of the 18-yard box to the senior forward Wade, who casually put the ball by a charging Hoffman in the 48th minute, collecting a season-total of 31 points which leads all SAC players.
Emilee Futrell added her sixth goal of the season in the 69th minute as she leads all freshmen in points in 2017. The Wilson, N.C. native took a long Alex Brandan pass that landed behind a falling Cobra defender and on the foot of Futrell, who booted it by the sprawling Coker goalkeeper.
Futrell's 14 points so far this year are most for an Eagle freshman since Varin Ness recorded 29 in the 2015 season.
The Cobras (3-11-1, 1-9 SAC) collected just three shots on the evening, two of which were on frame and stopped by Eagles net minder Jackie Burns.
Burns and Jasmine Rizk combined for their third shutout of the season. It was the team's 9th overall clean sheet of the regular season. C-N outscored their opponents 51-9 in the 15-game unbeaten stretch.
With the win, Jackie Burns is now tied for first all-time in C-N women's soccer history for career wins with 31. Her sophomore season hasn't even come to an end yet.
"This group is focused and excited for what is to come for us as the postseason is right around the corner," Duffy expressed.
The Eagles will host their own first round matchup of the 2017 South Atlantic Conference Conference Soccer Championships on Tuesday, Oct. 31. The #8 seeded Newberry College will make their second trip this season to Mossy Creek. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.
Times and seeds will be announced by the league later this evening. Stay up to date with the latest announcements and information at cneagles.com.
