Top Seeded Carson-Newman Women’s Soccer Wins Fourth Food Lion SAC Tournament Title, 3-1, Over Lenoir-Rhyne
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The #1 Carson-Newman College Women’s Soccer Team (18-2-1) scored early and often in the first half Sunday, building a 3-0 halftime lead over sixth-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne University (15-7-1) in the finals of the 2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament. The Lady Eagles went on to win the match by a 3-1 score. With the victory, Carson-Newman has captured its second straight Food Lion SAC Tournament title and fourth under Head Coach Phil McNamara.
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The #1 Carson-Newman College Women’s Soccer Team (18-2-1) scored early and often in the first half Sunday, building a 3-0 halftime lead over sixth-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne University (15-7-1) in the finals of the 2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament. The Lady Eagles went on to win the match by a 3-1 score. With the victory, Carson-Newman has captured its second straight Food Lion SAC Tournament title and fourth under Head Coach Phil McNamara.
"We are thrilled to win both the regular season and tournament
titles," McNamara said. "It's incredible to do it in back-to-back
years. It's an achievement that's only been done twice in the
history of the conference. We are delighted for the players. They
really deserved it with three fantastic performances in the
tournament to take the title home."
The Lady Eagles, which are ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II
Southeast Region and 11th nationally, scored their first goal in
ninth minute of the match. Sophomore forward Trenna
Howell (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) tallied her team-leading 13th
score of the season when she received a pass across the box from
senior forward Nikki Brannen (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) and put the ball
inside the far post.
C-N made it 2-0 seven and a half minutes later (15:57). Junior
defender Melissa Morris (Sweetwater, Tenn.) headed
in her second goal in as many contests off of a corner kick by
sophomore midfielder Sandra Kaelin (Trachslau,
SWITZERLAND).
Junior midfielder Morgan Gruenenfelder
(Sweetwater, Tenn.) gave the Lady Eagles a coveted 3-nil lead just
before the half hour mark (28:05). On another Kaelin corner,
Gruenenfelder headed that ball into the net after it deflected of
the Lenoir-Rhyne netminder.
Lenoir-Rhyne stole C-N’s clean sheet with just 7:04
remaining in the match. Catherine Hauck (Lake Mary, Fla.) converted
a corner by Chermaine MacLachlainn (Tobermory, SCOTLAND) to make
the score 3-1.
Sophomore Lauren MacKenzie (Barrie, Ontario,
CANADA) tallied four saves in the victory for the Lady Eagles while
L-R’s Katelyn Burwell (Carthage, N.C.) stopped 11 C-N shots
despite the loss.
Grunenfelder, junior defender Brianana Buckley
(Oak Ridge, Tenn.), junior defender Katie Hunter
(Mississsauga, Ontario, CANADA) and Kaelin were named to the
All-Tournament Team with Kaelin being named tournament MVP.
Carson-Newman will now await the release of the 2009 NCAA Division
II Playoff pairings, which will be announced later on Sunday
evening.
2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference All-Tournament
Team
Alyssa Retundie, Catawba
Tasha Wilhelm, Catawba
Marjaana Kaaresvirta, Tusculum
Ashley Bradford, Tusculum
Catherine Hauck, Lenoir-Rhyne
Kaelia Frazier, Lenoir-Rhyne
Katelyn Burwell, Lenoir-Rhyne
Morgan Gruenenfelder, Carson-Newman
Brianna Buckley, Carson-Newman
Katie Hunter, Carson-Newman
Sandra Kaelin, Carson-Newman (MVP)
