SALISBURY, N.C. – Carson-Newman (3-1-1, 0-0-1) went down a goal on two different occasions but managed to battle back both times to secure one point in its SAC opener against #9 Catawba (2-0-3, 0-0-1) on Wednesday night.
"Obviously delighted with the result against the number 9 team in the country on the road," Carson-Newman head coach Simon Duffy said. "Great performance in the second half. A lot of grit and determination from the players. Everybody put in maximum effort and we scored two wonderful goals as a result."
The comeback effort allowed Carson-Newman to continue its success at Frock Field against the Indians. C-N has gone unbeaten in six straight meetings against Catawba on the road, with this being the third consecutive draw.
Catawba wasted no time to get rolling offensively. A fifth minute corner kick turned into a Bree Ehmer goal. Two headers from Maria Rayburn and Morgan Delair set up the chance inside the six-yard for Ehmer who booted home to make it 1-0 Indians.
The Indians would fire off just four more shots in the opening half, all of which were off target. Most of Catawba's chances came off of corner kicks, of which it had four of in the opening half.
Carson-Newman held strong defensively after allowing an early goal, but was unable to stay consistent enough in its attacking third. C-N failed to record a shot in the opening 45 minutes and had just one corner kick. It's just the second time this season that the Eagles have been held without a shot in a half.
Right as the second half started, C-N went right to work. Selina Jud (Wilderswil, Switzerland) dribbled from midfield all the way along the sideline into the corner where she crossed a ball into the box. Savannah Fields (Johnson City, Tenn.) was the lone player on the back post to receive the ball, taking one touch and rocketing a shot into the center of goal to tie the match just 30 seconds into the second half.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) September 18, 2024
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However, Catawba had an immediate response. After a bad pass in the defensive half, Savannah Singh found Kylie Morin who sent a shot into the upper right corner of goal to put the Indians back in front in the 49th minute.
The Eagles started to gain more of the possession over the next 25 minutes of the game, and the patience paid off. An attack forward set up a corner kick in the 75th minute. C-N played the corner short and passed it around the outside of the box. The ball ended up with Krista Nielsen who sent a strike from outside the box into the top left corner of goal to tie the match for C-N yet again.
LET'S GO!!!!!!!!!
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) September 18, 2024
What a shot from @kristaaasol to level the match��
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Catawba had three shots in the final 15 minutes, but Carson-Newman's defense held firm. Berna Kabakci (Zeddham, Netherlands) made her first and only save in the match down the stretch as well.
The Eagles managed just the two shots in the game, but made the most of them. Fields' goal to start the scoring for C-N was the seventh of her career and first this season. She becomes the seventh different Eagle to score a goal this season. Jud assisted the goal, her first of the year and fourth with C-N.
Nielsen's equalizing goal in the second half was the sophomore's second goal this season and fourth in her career. It was Alayna Corbitt's pass that set up the goal, Corbitt's second assist this season.
Catawba outshot C-N 12-2, but only had three shots on goal. Carson-Newman had three corner kicks compared to the Indians' seven.
Carson-Newman returns home on Saturday for its SAC home opener versus Coker. First touch from McCown Field. is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. A live stream of the game is available with a subscription to FloSports.
Fans can also follow along by following @CN_Eagles on X (Twitter) and Instagram for in-game updates.
