JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Using a pair of early second half goals, Carson-Newman (6-5-2) was able to roll past Bluefield State (4-9) Wednesday evening at McCown Field, winning 2-0.
"It's always hard to step outside of conference when your in the middle of the season and play a non-conference opponent," Carson-Newman head coach Simon Duffy said. "A win is a win, but you would think with the quality we have, we could score a few more than we did tonight. If we are a bit more clinical, we are putting the ball in the back of the net a lot more than we did."
C-N is now 2-1-1 in non-conference matches this season and has scored three goals or more in three of those four contests. The Eagles improve to 64-2-3 when scoring two goals or more under Duffy.
Carson-Newman took its first chances in the 11th minute. Addie Henry (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Savannah Fields (Johnson City, Tenn) fired shots toward goal, but both were saved by Rylee Truslow.
Bluefield State's Ava Jakich-Kunze took her team's first shot of the half but missed wide right of target in the 13th minute.
The Eagles had a great scoring opportunity in the 24th minute. Abbie Zander (Baneberry, Tenn.) sent a right-footed cross into the box that was controlled by Henry on the back post. She then fired a shot toward goal that made Truslow leap up to deflect the ball away to Anita Arnadottir (Alftanes, Iceland) who had her shot blocked and that ended the offensive sequence.
Two minutes later, Molly Bukiewicz (Beavercreek, Ohio) raced into the attacking third and sent a shot on goal that was saved. After a quick turnover, Arnadottir gained possession and hit a ball off the crossbar.
C-N threatened once more in the 35th minute. Off a free kick, Maja Bengtsson (Malung, Sweden) jumped up and headed a ball toward goal that was saved. Just a minute later, the Big Blue turned it over and Cameron Giles (Hendersonville, Tenn.) had a 1v1 with the keeper, but Truslow made yet another stop on a shot toward the left corner of goal. Five more shots were fired but they missed target and the match was scoreless at halftime.
The Eagles compiled 18 first half shots, their most shots in a half this season. To put that number in perspective, C-N has only two games this season with 18 shots or more.
Carson-Newman continued where it left off in the opening half offensively. Off C-N's eighth corner kick, the ball was flicked around, and Iris Palsdottir (Reykjavik, Iceland) was in the right spot, and headed the ball into goal to put C-N up 1-0 in the 47th minute. It was Palsdottir's first career goal on just her second career shot.
Three minutes later, the Eagles struck again. Zander dribbled the ball all the way into box and sent a near-sided shot that deflected off the keeper's hands and into the back of the net to increase the lead to 2-0. The goal is Zander's third this season and eighth in her career.
"I knew I was faster than their whole back line," Zander said. "So, I figured if I got in behind we had a good chance of getting the ball in the back of the net and we did. Luckily, it bounced around a bit and went in."
The Eagles only managed two more shots on target after scoring the early second half goals.
Carson-Newman's 32 shots was its most in a game this season and its most in a match since recording 33 in a 6-0 win over Emory & Henry last season. The Eagles also recorded a season-high nine corner kicks in the win.
The Eagles scored first for the sixth time this season and for the third straight game.
Berna Kabakci only saw two shots head her way, making one save. She records her second clean sheet of the year.
Rylee Truslow made eleven saves for Bluefield State.
Carson-Newman returns to McCown Field on Monday at 4:00 p.m. for a non-conference match with Columbus State.
