JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – In a game that began in a lightning delay, it ended with Carson-Newman (1-2-1, 0-1) dropping its SAC opener to Anderson (2-2, 1-0) 1-0, Saturday night at McCown field.
"I just don't think our quality was on display tonight," Carson-Newman head coach Simon Duffy said. "The only chance I thought they could score was from a set piece. We concede the goal from a set piece, and we've said to the players that's important. That was the difference tonight unfortunately."
The loss is just the fifth SAC match that Carson-Newman has lost at home under Duffy. It is the second straight year C-N has started league play with a loss to the Trojans.
Carson-Newman gained more of the possession in the opening half and had more shot attempts, but nothing to show for. Anderson had the only two shots on frame in the first half, both of which were saved by Berna Kabakci (Zeddam, Netherlands).
The Eagles had corner kicks in the 30th, 31st, and 39th minutes but were unable to make the most of those opportunities.
Both teams had some really good chances to begin the second half. Meggie Powell sent a shot on frame that was saved by Kabakci. C-N got the next two shots on frame in the 49th minute, but both were saved by Victoria McGovern.
Kabakci did all she could to help keep the match scoreless, making five saves in a ten-minute stretch. After a couple failed Carson-Newman corner kick opportunities, Anderson went back on the attack in the 75th minute with a pair of shots from Leanna Guion that were both saved by Kabakci. This initial attack forced an Anderson corner kick. The Trojans executed the set piece, as Kaitlyn Gregory delivered a corner that found Kylie Swanson to put Anderson ahead 1-0.
The Eagles recorded five more shots in the next 15 minutes, two of which were on goal but were saved by McGovern.
Carson-Newman outshot Anderson 17-15, but the difference was shots on frame. Anderson sent 11 of its 15 shots on goal, while C-N sent four of its 17 on frame.
Addie Henry (Chattanooga, Tenn.) led Carson-Newman with five shots and three on goal. Seven other Eagles recorded shots in the match.
Kabakci finished the game with 11 saves in her collegiate debut. It's the most saves in a match since Jasmine Rizk made 11 at Catawba on October 26, 2019.
C-N had seven corner kicks, four more than the Trojans in the match.
The Eagles are back in action next Saturday when it travels to Wingate for a 1:00 p.m. match.
