WINGATE, N.C. – In a tightly contested South Atlantic Conference quarterfinal match, top-seeded Wingate (12-2-3) scored with less than 30 seconds to play in the opening half to get by eight-seeded Carson-Newman (6-7-3) 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at the WU Soccer Complex.
"Incredibly proud of the effort from us today," Carson-Newman women's soccer head coach Simon Duffy said. "Very unfortunate to be on the losing side when we deserve so much more. The players can hold their heads up high knowing we left it all on the pitch today…no regrets."
Carson-Newman's best chance early in the match came on a free kick opportunity from just outside the box. Off a quick touch from Felicia Frick, Annika Fend fired the shot attempt missing high over goal.
Wingate's best look early on was in the 17th minute. Sophia Husted's shot toward the lower left part of goal was saved by Berna Kabacki (Zeddam, Netherlands) to keep the match scoreless.
Kabakci would make her second save of the opening half in the 25th minute. Katie Ensalaco took the shot for Wingate at the center of goal.
Another great opportunity for the Eagles came in the 30th minute. Anita Arnadottir (Alfantes, Iceland) had her shot toward the center of goal booted away by a WU defender to keep it scoreless.
The next great look came off of a free kick. Alayna Corbitt's free kick was headed by Savannah Fields (Johnson City, Tenn.) toward goal where the goalkeeper would make the leaping save in the 42nd minute.
Wingate would strike with just 29 seconds left in the opening half. Manu Baptista Filipe's sent a slow rolling pass into the box where Hinako Aoki ran on to it and slotted a shot into the back of the net.
The Eagles would continue to pile up quality scoring chances. Less than a minute into the second half, they managed a corner kick to pressure early.
C-N's first three shots after halftime missed the target, but the fourth found it. Felicia Frick (Eschen, Liechtenstein) had her shot attempt saved by Haley Faucette in the 62nd minute.
WU's Ensalaco tried to add on to the lead, but Kabakci saved her right-footed shot in the 68th minutes to keep the margin at one.
Fields would take Carson-Newman's final shot on goal in the 81st minute. The attempt came from the top of the box with her left foot, seeing Faucette make her third and final save.
Shots, shots on goal and corner kicks were evenly split at ten, four and two for each side. Fields led C-N with four shot attempts, two of which hit the target.
Kabakci and Faucette each made three saves.
Carson-Newman closes the 2024 season 6-7-3.
To keep up with the latest Carson-Newman women's soccer news, stay tuned to cneagles.com and @cn_eagles on X and Facebook.
