VIDEO: Simon Duffy Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman women's soccer head coach Simon Duffy has finalized his team's schedule for the upcoming 2024 season.

It's a balanced schedule in 2024 as Carson-Newman eyes back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. An even eight home games and eight road games are scheduled this season, with one fourth of the slate against NCAA Tournament teams in 2023.

"Since I've been here, we've tried to schedule as tough as we can," Duffy said. "In large part to our strength of schedule is why we snuck into the NCAA Tournament last season. Our record wasn't overly good but that came against a lot of quality opponents. Similar strategy and thinking this season, we want to test our players early. There is no better test than opening up on the road against Columbus State."

The slate begins on Sept 5 against an NCAA Tournament club from 2023. Columbus State finished 15-4-2 earning the number four seed in the Southeast Region before falling to top seeded Lenoir-Rhyne in the second round. The Eagles fell in last season's meeting in Mossy Creek 3-0.

The home portion of the schedule begins two days later when C-N matches up against Union (TN) for the first time ever. Four days later, Duffy battles his former team in King for the second time and the first since 2017. The final tune-up before conference play is a road trip to battle Trevecca Nazarene on Sept 14th. The visit to Nashville will be the first since 2016 for a series that is tied 2-2-2.

"It's a challenge against foes that we haven't played or haven't played in a while," Duffy said. "It will be interesting to see how we can adapt and change and learn these new teams. On the other side, it's the same for them as well. We just want to challenge the players and hopefully get some wins on the board."

Duffy's squad will play three conference games to end the opening month of the season, the first being a road trip to Catawba. The Indians were the number two seed in the NCAA Tournament before a loss in the regional championship game to LR. Coker and Newberry come to Jefferson City to close September.

C-N will start October with two road fixtures against Emory & Henry and Limestone but will finish the month with four of their next five games at McCown Field. A non-conference game against Bluefield State begins the stretch, followed by visits from Mars Hill and Lincoln Memorial on Oct 12 and 16th. The lone road game is a trip to Hickory to face Lenoir-Rhyne on Oct 19th. The Eagles then have a full week off before serving as host to Wingate to close the home slate.

Trips to Anderson and Tusculum in November round out Carson-Newman's regular season and conference schedule. It'll be the first time since 2019 that the Eagles will play multiple regular season matches in November.

"We're really excited. We have a really good group returning with three newcomers coming as well. Just excited to see them integrate into the team. I'm hoping when the fall comes around, we can hit the ground running. The players know what is expected."

All Carson-Newman home games will be available on the Eagle Sports Network on FloSports.