First-half goals over Catawba keep C-N unblemished in SAC play
September 25, 2021

First-half goals over Catawba keep C-N unblemished in SAC play

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- Despite being held to its lowest amount of shots on the season, Carson-Newman took down Catawba, 2-1, on Saturday evening at McCown Field to stay undefeated in South Atlantic Conference matches. 

VIDEO: Highlights 

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- Despite being held to its lowest amount of shots on the season, Carson-Newman took down Catawba, 2-1, on Saturday evening at McCown Field to stay undefeated in South Atlantic Conference matches. 

"I think a little bit of the tempo and they needed to break lines a little earlier in the second half," head coach Stephen Lyons said. "Catawba kind of changed up a little bit. We didn't really seem to figure it out as well as we did in the first half, but we held on for the win." 

The regular-season winning streak in SAC action rolls on for Carson-Newman (4-2, 3-0), now at eight-straight since the 2020-21 season. This marks the first time the team has seen such a string of SAC wins since the 2013-2014 campaigns. It has won four consecutive matches since dropping the first two of the season. The 3-0 open in league action is also the first for the team since 2010. 

C-N hands Catawba (4-1-2, 0-1-1) its first loss of the season, ending its six-match unbeaten streak. The Eagles now lead the series 24-14-1 all-time, winning four straight. 

Harry Whitehead (Oxford, England) put C-N ahead just three minutes in after a pass from Thaylan Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil). He went one-on-one with Gianluca Tommasi, getting a look just past the left boot of the Catawba keeper that bounced into the net off of the inner left post. 

"It was just a good ball from Thay," Whitehead said. "He saw the gap between their two center halves, and, you know, I latched onto it. Luckily, I found the right side of the post and it went in, so, yeah, I was delighted to score, especially so early in the game." 

VIDEO: Harry Whitehead Interview 

The goal marked the second for the Orange and Blue this season before within the first five minutes of action. Silva's second assist of the year moves him into the top five of the program's career assists list, now tied for fifth with Patrick Olalere from the 1991-92 squads, both tallying 17. 

Nic Carsh (Newberg, Ore.) expanded the lead in the 38th minute, coming in off the bench. A touch by Matheus Maia (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and a nifty backpedal pass from Yannick Kranz (Hannover, Germany) landed with an open Carsh just above the 18-yard box for a screamer that he rocketed to the upper 90.  

"Nic and Maia came off the bench, Maia was involved in the goal as well and obviously Nic scored it," Stephen Lyons. "We know that we need that good energy coming off the bench, being able to change the game."  

Carson-Newman held Catawba without a shot throughout the first 45 minutes, leading the tally 5-0. The first shot for the Catawba Indians did not come until 23 seconds into the second half when Tom Savigar sent a shot that was saved by C-N's Bram Kaarsgaren (Den Bosch, The Netherlands). 

Catawba went 86 minutes without a goal until Tom Savigar got a one-on-one chance past a falling Kaarsgaren, cutting the C-N lead in half, 2-1. 

The Catawba Indians surged back with shot attempts in the second half, evening the tally 7-7 by the end of the match. Whitehead and Carsh led C-N's opportunities with two shots and a shot on frame each.  

In the cage, Kaarsgaren was called upon for a trio of saves, all in the closing 45. With the win, the senior moves into sole possession of fourth on the program's career wins list, now sitting at 20 since 2019. He is also tied for sixth on career goalkeeper games started at 32. 

Savigar led all players on the pitch with three shot attempts, each of which were on frame. The only other Catawba player to log multiple shot attempts was Simone Trentin with two. 

Tommasi went without a save in the contest. 

The home stint rolls on for Carson-Newman as Tusculum comes to town on Wednesday. Kickoff for the derby is slated for 7:30 p.m. at McCown Field. 

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