VIDEO: Molly Bukiewicz Interview 

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the final part of a three-part series previewing the 2023 Carson-Newman women's soccer season. We end the series by previewing the Eagles' attackers with help from Molly Bukiewicz.

Carson-Newman's offense ranked second in goals scored (36) and goals per game (2.12) in 2022. The Eagles will return 15 of its goals from last season, but none of which were scored by returning forwards.

Only Molly Bukiewicz (Beavercreek, Ohio) and Anita Arnadottir (Alftanes, Iceland) return up front for C-N this season, both of which appeared in just five games before suffering season ending injuries.

"I know we are both eager to get back on the field," Bukiewicz said. "I think having fresh bodies is going to be very beneficial. To have more people, it allows for more combinations that we can work and build together. We have a very strong midfield and so being able to link up with them I think is going to lead to a very lethal attack."

Despite playing just five games in 2022, Bukiewicz enters her fourth season with C-N and has made 25 total appearances. She burst onto the scene as a freshman, recording a SAC leading six assists in the seven-game shortened spring season.

"I am very excited to get back," Bukiewicz said. "It's always when you have time off for an injury and you are not able to play, you get a new perspective and appreciate the gift to play the game. I think last year was really critical for me, being supportive on the sideline and learn the lesson of how to be a great teammate. I'm very excited to be back on the field with my teammates and to go out and have a great season."

Four newcomers join C-N's attacking front, striving to maintain last season's level of success offensively.

Elysia Teske (Augusta, GA) transfers to Carson-Newman after spending her freshman at Emmanuel. She made 12 appearances including one start last season. In her first collegiate game, she scored her first collegiate goal. Cameron Giles (Hendersonville, Tenn.) joins the mix after four seasons at UT Chattanooga.

Krista Nielsen (Saudarkrokur, Iceland) and Aliyah Douglas (Oneida, Tenn.) are two incoming freshman that look to make an immediate impact. Nielsen is from Iceland where she was an integral part of a team that was named "the best team of the town in 2018, 2020 and 2022. Douglas makes her way to Mossy Creek from Oneida, where she scored 73 goals and recorded 60 assists in her high school career.

"I think they've been really great," Bukiewicz said. "Just seeing the different playing styles with each person, everyone brings something to the table and that's been something awesome to have. Everybody is learning each other and how we play and we are finding that way to mesh and grow. It does help to have them come in and provide more to even help grow and build off each other. We are all pushing each other to grow in areas of weakness and to keep building up our strengths."

Carson-Newman opens the 2023 season with a home match against North Greenville on Thursday at 4:00 p.m.

The game can be streamed on FloSports with a subscription.