JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (1-1-1) used a strong second half to takedown Young Harris (0-3) 4-0, Wednesday evening at McCown field.
"First half was anybody's game, we weren't at our best and let them in the game," Coach Simon Duffy said. "The second half won us that game. Obviously, we scored the goals, but I thought the performance in the second half, we wanted a clean sheet and two or more goals. I'm delighted with the result."
Carson-Newman put continuous pressure on Young Harris throughout the first half of play. The Eagles recorded eight shots and forced Mountain Lions' goalkeeper Havyn Isaac to make two saves. C-N opened the second half with an excellent sequence. Sophomore Nellie Bryneus sent a good pass to freshman Maja Bengtsson who fired a left footed shot in the upper right corner to give the Eagles the 1-0 advantage. The goal was Bengtsson's first career goal.
The Eagles constant offensive attack would start to finally pay off. Senior Addie Henry sent a beautiful ball behind the Mountain Lions defense and Bryneus made a better touch and sent a shot in the bottom right corner to give the Eagles insurance. The goal was Bryneus' second of the year and put C-N up 2-0 in the 75th minute.
"I had some good runs in the first half but didn't get the balls," Bryneus said. "But, in the second half, I got them, and I knew when I got the ball, I was just going to put it in the back of the net."
C-N was starting to get the offense rolling. Molly Bukiewicz left a beautiful pass in the middle for graduate student Sanne Martinsen who sent the shot in the lower left corner to put C-N up 3-0 in the 78th minute.
Jente Kuper put the finishing touches on C-N's home opening win with an 80th minute goal off a free kick that was deflected in the box. The Eagles scored three goals in in a five-minute stretch to put away Young Harris.
"The goal I kind of liked the most was when Molly B (Bukiewicz), gets in behind and pulls back and we've got Sanne (Martinsen) there ready to finish," Duffy said. "It's a simple game, but it's so hard to play simple futbol. Great goals, the way we got them. I think the second half, we need to build on that and draw from that more. I think we deserved what we did today."
The Eagles outshot YHC 18-6, and 9-1 on shots on goal. Henry led the team in shots with four, including one on goal. Three of the four Eagles goals were assisted.
Freshman Laura Germes got the start in goal, recording her first clean sheet. She recorded one save in the match.
With the victory, C-N has won seven straight home matches dating back to last season. The Eagles scored four goals for the first time since October 30, 2018 in the SAC quarterfinals against Wingate. Under Duffy in home openers, The Eagles have outscored their opponents 20-6. All five goals scored this season have been second-half goals.
C-N stays at home as it welcomes Nova Southeastern to Mossy Creek on Saturday for a 5:00 p.m. kick off.
