Carson-Newman Women's Soccer Position Previews: The Forwards 8-15-21

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Posted: Aug 15, 2021

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is part one of a three-part series previewing the Carson Newman women's soccer program for the fall 2021 season. This feature will focus on the forwards for the upcoming 2021 campaign, a position in which the team returns three top-scoring threats.

The forward position for C-N will be led by Emilee Futrell (Wilson, N.C.), who is coming off a strong spring 2021 campaign. She was named the South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year after her outstanding efforts on the field. This was the first time an Eagle had garnered this award since former All-American Magda Mosengo collected the laurel after the 2018 season. In the six-game pod-style spring season, Futrell finished tied for the conference lead in goals with six while also amassing the league's second-most shot attempts with 34. In addition, of her six goals in the spring, Futrell netted three game-winners and was the SAC leader in points with 13 through seven games of action.

Futrell finished the spring 2021 campaign as a first-team All-SAC selection alongside teammate Addie Henry (Chattanooga, Tenn.). In C-N women's soccer history, Futrell sits in eighth place all-time with 33 career goals, only one behind former CNWS assistant and current Auburn Montgomery head coach Jules Herrity.

"We have already had a season together, and we have had that time to grow to get to know each other and produce," Bukiewicz mentioned. "It's definitely helped to have someone like Emilee in this position to lead and direct us when we play so we can produce just like Emilee does for us."

The Eagles also return junior Makayla Garner (Fort Mill, S.C.), coming off another strong showing in her sophomore campaign. Garner was part of the starting XI for six of the seven matches in the spring for C-N. The Fort Mill native was responsible for an individual brace against Mars Hill before adding her third goal on the season versus Tusculum. Garner also rocketed off the second-most shot on goal attempts for C-N, with eight of her 10 total attempts finding the frame.

Alongside Futrell and Garner, the Eagles will see six other athletes returning for the fall season to go along with one new addition for the frontline. Sophomore Marta De Zanger (Barcelona, Spain) comes back after a spring season which saw her begin her Eagles career as part of the starting XI in one match. De Zanger collected her first goal as an Eagle against Mars Hill while firing off five shots on goal throughout the spring. In addition, fellow sophomore Molly Bukiewicz (Beavercreek, Ohio) will look to continue her impressive career after ending the spring 2021 season as the SAC leader in assists with six.

C-N also sees junior Mic Kriebel (Greeneville, Tenn.) coming back after appearing in all seven matches for C-N during the spring and compiled three shot attempts and an assist. In addition, sophomore Abbie Zander (Baneberry, Tenn.) started the spring off strong. She netted her first collegiate goal against LMU in the season opener while making another start and appearance for Duffy's squad.

The other two returners for Duffy and C-N are senior Elena Propst (Maiden, N.C.) and sophomore Carina Wust (Hausen im Wiesental, Germany), who will look to come back stronger after not seeing action in the spring season.

Coach Duffy and his staff see a new addition to C-N's frontline attack, with freshman Nellie Bryneus (Halmstad, Sweden) joining the Eagles.

Bryneus was appointed MVP a couple of times in her BK Astrio team. Her BK Astrio team won division 2 in 2020, moving onto division 1 play in 2021. She helped her team win several tournaments on the national level (Future Cup) and reached 1/8 in the Gothia Cup.

"Building upon last season is seeing where I can help the team more and where I can assist the team consistently," Bukiewicz added. "Playing this position is my mine, and I love it the most. Even with the addition of Nellie, we still have plenty of inner competition to use as motivation to better our performance heading into the season."

Part two of the three-part series will feature the midfielders for the 2021 program.

-CN-