JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – In a matchup for pivotal placement in the SAC standings, Carson-Newman women's soccer went head-to-head against the Limestone Saints for the first time as conference opponents Saturday night. The Eagles (9-3-3, 7-2-1 SAC) looked to secure another three points and a berth at hosting a first round match in the upcoming SAC tournament.
In a match that was outshadowed by the not so ideal field conditions, it would be the Eagles securing their destiny as they took the 1-0 victory over the Saints (9-4-1, 5-4-1 SAC) as they will now host a first round SAC Tournament match next weekend.
Saturday held a lot of importance beyond placement in the SAC standings. The result also pushed C-N's regular season winning streak at home in SAC competition to four straight, the first time the Eagles have achieved this feat since the 2016 season when they defeated Mars Hill, Anderson (S.C.), Catawba, and Tusculum.
The last time C-N won four straight overall against SAC opponents at McCown Field came during the 2018 season as the Eagles defeated Anderson (S.C.), Mars Hill, and Catawba during the regular season before going on to defeat Wingate in the 2018 SAC quarterfinals and Catawba in the 2018 NCAA Southeast Regional that season.
Under head coach Simon Duffy, the Eagles are now 31-7-4 from McCown Field, including 19-4-1 against the SAC on the home pitch. This is the second straight home victory over the Saints for Carson-Newman as they have not lost on the home pitch to Limestone since 2012 when the visitors took home a 2-1 overtime victory.
This is also the last time Limestone has won in the series, as Carson-Newman has won four straight over the Saints. In their winning span, the Eagles are outscoring the Saints 6-1.
In the first half, it was all about feeling one another out as the teams not only got used to playing their first match in a week, but also figuring out the "sweet spots" within the damp and muddy McCown Field. It would be the second shot on the day for Carson-Newman that would find the spot as sophomore MJ Park (Chattanooga, Tenn.) put a ball into the area that just happened to sky over the head of Katie Maher and make it 1-0.
As the first half came to a close, it was sophomore goalkeeper Lilly Ebner (Hohentengen, Germany) making some pivotal saves against Limestone to keep the lead and make sure the Eagles held Limestone scoreless through the first 45. This would mark the fourth straight home match in which the Eagles held their opponent scoreless through the first 45. The last time the Eagles allowed a first half goal was in their matchup against Tusculum as the Pioneers scored at the 29:57 mark of the first half.
Heading into the match, head coach Simon Duffy knew the importance of a mindset for a match with high expectations, such as Saturday. When asked how he wanted his team to act, he said "We had a week to prepare for them and Limestone will have a week to prepare for us as well. Excellent coach and should have a good mindset against us," Duffy said. "A win and we're secured to host a game as well next Saturday."
Duffy's group led the shot category at the half ripping off a total of six shots compared to only three for Limestone. Of their six attempts, only Park's goal would be a shot on goal as Limestone had two of their three attempts be shots on goal.
As with most of the second half action for the Eagles this season, high pressure and momentum were up for grabs and whoever could grasp it, ended up winning the match. Limestone came out firing with a couple quality attempts in the 54th and 61st minute but the Eagles defense clamped down to keep the lead. Junior Addie Henry (Chattanooga, Tenn.) had one of the best second half attempts for C-N as she fired off a shot in the 68th minute, but Limestone's Taylin Jean made the save to keep it a one -goal game.
Very shortly after, sophomore Carina Wüst (Hausen im Wiesental, Germany) fired off a shot in the 73rd minute that was mere inches away from doubling the lead, but it bounced off the crossbar and Limestone remained with a chance to regain the momentum.
"We knew the circumstances for Limestone and us on Saturday. It was in our hands to control our future and we needed to go out and play like we can and get the result we deserve and move on from there," Duffy said.
After the final whistle, it was the Eagles taking home a 13-10 shot advantage, including two shots on goal. This is the lowest shots on goal total for C-N this season since their October 2 matchup against Queens, when the Eagles also held two shots on goal.
Carson-Newman will now go on the road to conclude their 2021 regular season as they head to a familiar spot in Hickory, North Carolina. The Eagles will go to battle against the team who knocked them out of the spring SAC tournament, the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears.
"There are at least four or five teams, in my opinion, who can go out there and win the whole conference so we just need to get ourselves in a place where we can be one of those potential teams," Duffy said.
Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on November 3 from the Moretz Sports Complex and Bears Field in Hickory between the Eagles and Bears.
Fans can watch the action via the Bears Sports Network at this link or follow the in-game live stats at this link as well as follow live in-game updates via Twitter from @CN_Eagles.
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