JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.- Carson-Newman women's soccer begins their 2022 season tomorrow afternoon in Cleveland, Tennessee matching up with the Cedarville Yellow Jackets.
This is the first time since 2018 that the Eagles will begin the season playing a match at a neutral site.
"It's Christmas Eve, it's exciting for the players to get back out there," Coach Simon Duffy said. "We've had a really good preseason test and played some really good opponents. I think the players are ready."
Coach Duffy enters his sixth season leading the Eagles. In his first five seasons, he has a 60-18-6 record. In SAC play, his record is 36-9-3.
Carson-Newman is coming off a 10-5-3 season, which ended in the SAC semifinals to #10 Catawba.
C-N returns 25 of their 31 goals scored from the 2021 season. Sydnee Duncan leads the group of returners. She led the team scoring eight goals her freshman season and tied for the team lead with Nellie Bryneus for 16 pts.
The Eagles were picked to finish 3rd in the SAC preseason poll. C-N had four players recognized by the conference's preseason teams. Duncan, Bryneus, Addie Henry and Jente Kuper were all second-team all-SAC selections.
CN adds eight freshmen to a team that returns 14 players from 2021.
Coach Duffy teams have been outscored 8-6 in season openers.
Cedarville is coming off an impressive 2021 season. The Yellow Jackets finished 12-6-2, which included an appearance in the NCAA D2 Midwest regional.
CU is 17-4-2 in GMAC play over the past two seasons and has finished in the top three in four of the last six seasons.
The Yellow Jackets have been picked 2nd in the GMAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll.
Shutouts and saves leader Brook Ackley returns in goal for the Yellow Jackets. She recorded 60 saves in 2021.
Thursday's matchup marks the first ever meeting between the two programs.
"There's a reason why the preseason slate was that way, because we open up against two really good teams," Duffy said. "Obviously, Cedarville had a tremendous season last year, but we are just hopeful we can continue on what we've done in the last two and a half weeks. It's been sharp, it's been good."
Thursday's match is set to kick off at 4:30 pm in Cleveland, Tenn at the Roy Conn Sports Complex. Be certain to follow Carson-Newman athletics on twitter at @cneagles for live updates and via cneagles.com throughout the 2022 season.
Here is the link to watch Thursday's match: https://leeu.live/?video=742412926
