September 19, 2012

Eagles Begin Home Play with 2-1 Win Over LMU

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (4-2) men’s soccer team opened their home schedule with a 2-1 win over the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters (3-2) at McCown Field on Wednesday night. The win extends Carson-Newman’s winning streak to four, as the Eagles withstood a 21-shot effort by the Railsplitters.

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (4-2) men's soccer team opened their home schedule with a 2-1 win over the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters (3-2) at McCown Field on Wednesday night.

The win extends Carson-Newman's winning streak to four, as the Eagles withstood a 21-shot effort by the Railsplitters.

"The boys are always just a fun team to watch," said Carson-Newman head coach Richard Moodie. "I'll be honest, they're a tough team to beat right now. They're full of confidence, they're enjoying themselves, and playing good soccer."

Carson-Newman grabbed the advantage early in the first period. In the eighth minute mark, sophomore midfielder Joao Pedro Dowsley (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) scored off of a Sindre Welo (Trondheim, Norway) corner kick to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. The goal is Dowsley's second of the season.

Nearly three minutes later, Welo scored on a free kick from just outside of the box to put Carson-Newman's lead at 2-0. The goal is Welo's third of the season, and he has now scored in back-to-back matches for the Eagles.

"Week in, week out, he consistently performs," said Moodie about Welo. "Sindre Welo never has a bad day because he makes up with effort what he lacks in technical abilities. He's a great fit to our puzzle."

The Eagles maintained the 2-0 lead through the end of the first period, and into the final ten minutes of the match. LMU scored in the 84^th minute mark as Chris Nash scored to cut Carson-Newman's lead to 2-1. The Eagles held off a LMU rally in the final five minutes to win by that 2-1 score.

Nash's goal ended a shutout streak for Carson-Newman goalkeeper Rumwald Le Guevel (Vannes, France). Prior to that goal, Le Guevel had not given up a goal in just over the last 285 minutes between the posts for Carson-Newman. Tonight's match was only the second time in Carson-Newman's four-match winning streak that a team has scored on Le Guevel and the Eagles.

"We can enjoy this one for sure," Moodie said. "They came in and beat us 3-0 last year, but tonight the better team won for sure."

Carson-Newman will next play on Saturday against the Wingate Bulldogs at the WU Soccer Complex in Wingate, N.C. at 7 p.m.