Carson-Newman vs Armstrong State Press Conference Transcription
The following is a written transcript from coaches and players following Carson-Newman’s 3-0 win over Armstrong State in the second round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championships.
The following is a written transcript from coaches and players following Carson-Newman's 3-0 win over Armstrong State in the second round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championships.
Carson-Newman Press Confernence
Carson-Newman
Q1: First off, give an overall comment on the win over Armstrong.
Moodie: It's a proud moment for us as a program. I think for a team that only won three games all last year, now to be overall 19-2 on the year and to be our first experienced in the national tournament since 2009, and here we are about to enter into the Sweet 16. I think it's a very proud moment for us as a group, and again, I think we just have to take it in and enjoy every minute of it and be thankful that we have a chance to practice tomorrow again.
Q2: How big was that goal in the first minute from Holly [Talbut-Smith]?
Moodie: It was big but it was kind of the game plan, really. Even their coach said when we spoke at the end, you haven't pressed high all year and you caught us off guard. That was kind of the plan to come here and set the tone and the tempo. We said we would score early, but when I looked at the clock, it was still in the first minute. I started worrying if it was too early, but we managed to get ahold of the game and really make it our own after the second goal came, they pushed a little bit more but I still think we looked comfortable defensively. Of course the third goal from Nikki [McWilliams] here was unbelievable and then the save in the last minute from Jessica [Fraiture] was great.
Q3: Jessica, fifth-straight shutout from you. What was that goal where you made the initial save and Helen got on the line? How big was that for you and for the defense in general?
Fraiture: That was huge for Helen to be able to just come in behind me and save it after I deflected it. Its stopped the goal and that's what we wanted.
Q4: You have a school-record now of ten shutouts. What's that mean to you that in your freshman season, you have ten shutouts?
Fraiture: I mean, I don't know. I just have to keep working hard and to keep doing what I need to do.
Q5: Nikki, walk us through that goal in the 90th minute where you had that sick strike.
McWilliams: All I remember is Heida [Ragney] played the ball around inside. Varin [Ness], she shifted the defense, they all followed her, so I just went to goal.
Q6: Once the game kind of opened up, did you feel like you and the top-three were able to make more of a game and really expose that defense of Armstrong?
McWilliams: I think so. I think Jules [Herrity] and Holly [Talbut-Smith] probably had more of the attacking opportunities, but as the game went on, I think there were more and more opportunities and I was hoping we have some more goals, but it was one of those days.
Q7: Coach, you have Columbus State on Friday. What do you all do this weekend in practice to get ready for the Cougars?
Moodie: We just do what we have done all year. I think that was the biggest compliment after as a coach, our ability to adapt with our philosophy and catch a team off-guard when they came here at home. Columbus State is a great team, there's no doubt about it, but every team we played are great. Armstrong, unbelievable team as well. They are well coached. Eric [Faulconer] has done a great job there with them. We want to play against the good teams and we want to see how good we really are. We will do nothing different in practice, we will just come in and work hard, play like we are the underdog and just enjoy the opportunity to be going into the Sweet 16.
Q8: Eight of your last 10 matches have been a clean-sheet. What has changed in that time period to keep teams off the scoreboard?
Moodie: We have had to yell at Jessica [Fraiture] a lot [laughs]. Nothing really has changed. I think it's just the maturity within the squad by knowing both sides of the ball. We are such an offensive team. I think we led the conference and nationally we have such an offense, but when you get to these national tournament games, we are amongst the top-dogs. I think if you can prevent them from scoring, we know that we are at least good for a goal a game, and so we know that it is going to come and have to believe that the goal will come. So defensively, I think there is some pressure on our squad to make sure that it is not to come back and tie a game, but it is to come back and put us in the lead. With that mentality, I think the squad has channeled a lot of energy on working both sides of the ball. I think between Jessica [Fraiture] and even the defensive unit, not just the back-four which have definitely been phenomenal. We are still very young. We have a sophomore, a junior, a junior, a sophomore, and then a freshman goalkeeper. I just think as a unit, defensively without Heida [Ragney], Averi [Williams], Varin [Ness] and everyone else above the back-four. I think it's also important the pieces of this puzzle. The kids are buying in and do the work that it takes to win the games, so all credit to my team. I think we are one of the best teams in the country and I think deservingly so we get the opportunity to play again.
Armstrong State
Faulconer: It changed in the first minute. It changed everything we wanted to do. Credit to them. They came out and high pressured us- something they haven't done a lot this year. They kind of sit back a little bit and everything that we saw during the course of the year was that. They kind of absorb a little bit of pressure and then start to play, so credit to them on that. They got the early goal and then you're chasing the game. Tough team to crack once you're chasing the game, so I think that made all the difference and then at that point, obviously some of those goals come from just trying to score.
Q1: Friday, you scored two goals in about five minutes to start the second half. Today, it seemed like you came out with a different mentality. What was the adjustments that you were making at halftime?
Faulconer: They are just a different kind of team. They are more organized and have some special kids that we felt like could make it a stalemate a little bit. It really was in the first half with two shots to two. Other than the quick goal, I thought the game was pretty much even. After that we said that we had to make it a little more direct and try to get after them and we had some chances there but we opened ourselves up. What we were worried about initially was if we had too many numbers, you just have kids who can break you down. So we were concerned about that and eventually they did do that, so I give credit to them.
Q2: About seventeen minutes left, they [Carson-Newman] made two great saves. Obviously, the game is probably a little bit different if you guys are able to break through there. Did you guys still feel like you still had a chance even though they got that second goal?
Faulconer: Yeah. If you get the one back then it is 2-1 and changes the game and it changes the mentality and momentum. I didn't even know where she came from and where she blocked the second one. We felt like we always had a chance in that if it were to happen, but credit to Carson-Newman. They are a very good team. They are very strong physically and played good soccer. They are well coached. It wasn't our day today, so hats off to them.
Q3: What did you say to the team after the game? Obviously, a lot of the players will come back next season, so what did you say to them after?
Faulconer: You know we improved in so many areas this year compared to last year. We start most games with eight underclassman. A lot of things we didn't do last year and in games we didn't win last year, we flipped those results this year. We went a lot farther in our conference tournament, we went around farther in the NCAA tournament. So I told them to walk out with your heads held high, but to be disappointed, because it's the offseason to where we can make some gains. We got to get physically stronger and improve and we have a lot of young players. It was a positive experience. We were hoping to move on, but it just wasn't our time.
Q4: Coach, you talked about your underclassman, what do you hope that they take from this experience?
Faulconer: I thought we were tentative at the very beginning of this game where we weren't so much in the last game. They [Carson-Newman] just kind of came at us. This is the NCAA tournament. Sometimes there's not a feeling-out process in some of these matches, especially when you move on in some of these rounds. So, we have to come ready to play off the get go. I felt like that they jumped on us. We have to learn how to absorb that. I think it rattled us a little bit and that's something that we have to learn from. I think the fact that we know we can come in and advance in this tournament is important for our program. A couple of years ago, we had a similar type of group that eventually made the Final Four and the Elite Eight that went out in similar rounds. Hopefully we can have that kind of success. I'm very proud of our girls. We have a great group of young ladies and had a great season.
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