INDIANAPOLIS - For the first time since 2018, Carson-Newman women's soccer is headed back to the NCAA Tournament earning the number eight seed in the Southeast region, as announced by the NCAA during the Division II Women's Soccer selection show earlier this evening.
"It just hit home when we thought about it, it seems like just yesterday we were there," Carson-Newman head coach Simon Duffy said. "It's something we pride ourselves on and not being there the last few years has been tough, especially finishing ninth a couple times. Our body of work, strength of schedule, RPI, all of that helped us. Couldn't be more thrilled for the players. Again, it was an eye-opener to think that none of our current players have been to the national tournament.
The postseason berth marks the 12th NCAA tournament appearance for the program and its first since the 2018 season. C-N's first trip to the NCAA tournament came in 2003. In its last eight NCAA tournament appearances, Carson-Newman has won at least one game in the tournament. The 2007 loss in the opening round to Columbus State is the last time the Eagles have been bounced in round one.
After making the tournament in his first two seasons as head coach, Simon Duffy leads his team into the postseason for the third time.
"I couldn't be more excited for our players to experience this," Duffy said. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and it doesn't come around very often. For our seniors and fifth-years, I am just so excited for them. But not just for them, but for the freshman to experience that and get that hunger now for postseason. That's so important for our culture going forward."
Overall, C-N is 18-12 all-time in NCAA tourney matches and is 5-1 under Duffy in his two previous NCAA tournament runs with the Eagles. His first run in the national tournament was a magical one, taking C-N all the way to the national championship game in 2017, before falling to Central Missouri in penalty kicks.
Duffy's squad will face off with the number one seed, regular season, and South Atlantic Conference tournament champion Lenoir-Rhyne for a third time this season. The Bears will enter postseason play as one of six remaining unbeaten teams in DII women's soccer.
"I think the mental battle is the biggest thing," Carson-Newman senior Addie Henry said. "On any day, any team can be beaten. Playing a great familiar opponent, we just know that we have to be at our best that day."
Carson-Newman is led by its three All-SAC peformers, Abbie Zander (Baneberry, Tenn.), Felicia Frick (Eschen, Liechenstien) and Addie Henry (Chattanooga, Tenn.). This trio has got the job done on both ends of the field this season and has combined for seven goals and ten assists this season. Selina Jud (Wilderswil, Switzerland) and Alba Delgado (Oviedo, Spain) have both been effective as attackers this season, scoring four goals each and adding one assist. Interestingly enough, nobody on C-N's roster has any NCAA tournament experience.
"Honestly kind of surprised," Henry said. "We are excited more than anything. We are playing a familiar opponent and anything can happen on any given day. It's really exciting being a part of the tournament for the first time."
Despite the worst record among the NCAA tournament teams in the Southeast region, C-N has been battled tested by facing five NCAA tournament teams. The Eagles strength of schedule is .583, the fifth best mark among Southeast region schools.
"We do that to make sure we challenge ourselves," Duffy said. "When we come up against teams like that, we aren't always going to win, but we just want to challenge ourselves for when the postseason comes."
In this single-elimination tournament, 56 teams have been selected via regional berths. The Southeast region is one of three regions to secure the most teams with eight.
The winner of Lenoir-Rhyne and Carson-Newman will get the winner of the 4/5 matchup between a pair of Peach Belt schools, Columbus State and Flagler. On the opposite side of the bracket, Catawba earns the number two seed and will face off against Conference Carolinas champion UNC Pembroke. North Georgia is the number three seed and will meet up with the six-seeded Wingate Bulldogs. Four SAC schools, three PBC schools and one Conference Carolinas team make up the Southeast region field in 2023.
The first-round games from Hickory, N.C. get underway on Friday Nov. 17. No. 1 Lenoir-Rhyne and No. 8 Carson-Newman will meet on Friday evening at 6pm.
