Carson-Newman Suffers First Loss of 2009 to Lee University, 4-1
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- Defending NAIA national champion Lee University handed the No. 8 Carson-Newman women's soccer team its first loss of the season on Tuesday night, as the Lady Flames took down the Lady Eagles 4-1 at McCown Field.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- Defending NAIA national champion Lee
University handed the No. 8 Carson-Newman women's soccer team its
first loss of the season on Tuesday night, as the Lady Flames took
down the Lady Eagles 4-1 at McCown Field.
Jamie Achten had a stellar night for Lee as she tallied three
goals to lead the Lady Flames (10-2) to the win.
The loss snapped C-N's (11-1-1) 12-match unbeaten streak.
"I thought the team played the way I presented the game, which was
it being a game with not much relevance," C-N head coach Phil
McNamara said. "Unfortunately, that personality followed out onto
the field with regard to our effort and our ability to play our
style of soccer against a very good opponent in Lee University.
Finishing was a key difference in the result of this hard fought
contest. Lee had some excellent goals. Credit to the Lee players
and my buddy Matt Yelton for the quality of team they consistantly
produce every year. I thought last year they could have played with
any team at any level."
"With the three forwards I witnessed tonight, I've got to think Lee has every opportunity of challenging to be back-to-back NAIA National Champions. We will not face a front three as good as Lee's in Division II, unless we reach the likes of West Florida deep into the NCAA Tournament. For us, we need to use the game as a learning curve. The contest offered us the opportunity to experiment with formations and individual playing positions. I threw a lot of responsibility at certain players tonight with little training and some responded better than others. I just hope we are mature enough to look past the result of this game and look at the positives, especially as it comes between two huge conference contests"
The teams finished the night with 15 shots each. C-N goalkeeper
Lauren MacKenzie (Barrie, Ontario) collected eight saves and
surrendered four goals in the loss, while Lee's Leah Wilson
rejected five shots and allowed one goal to pick up the win.
Emma Plewa jump-started Lee's night as she finished off a cross
from Jamie Achten in the fifth minute to give the Lady Flames an
early 1-nil lead.
Achten came through with her first goal of the night in the 23rd
to push Lee's lead to 2-0 heading into the locker room.
C-N battled back in the second half. Sandra Kaelin (Trachau,
Switzerland) received a cross from Trenna Howell (Oak Ridge, Tenn.)
and placed the ball into the back of the net in the 62nd minute to
trim Lee's lead to 2-1.
However, Achten added goals in the 75th and 87th minutes to seal
the win for Lee.
C-N returns to the pitch at home on Saturday in a key South
Atlantic Conference matchup against Wingate. The match is schedule
to start at 5 p.m.
