Eagles erupt for four second-half goals en route to comeback season-opening win
Carson-Newman women’s soccer (1-0-0) scored four goals in a 21-minute stretch in the second half to defeat North Greenville (0-1-0) in the season opener 5-3, at McCown field on Thursday.
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VIDEO: Felicia Frick Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman women's soccer (1-0-0) scored four goals in a 21-minute stretch in the second half to defeat North Greenville (0-1-0) in the season opener 5-3, at McCown field on Thursday.
The victory is C-N's first season opening victory since 2017 when it defeated Ferris State. Over the last ten seasons, the Eagles are now 8-1-1 in home openers.
"Coming back twice showed a lot of character for what this team is all about," Carson-Newman head coach Simon Duffy said. "It's the very first game of the season and to find out about your team so early on is vital because later on down the season, we know we have that in reserve, and we can fall back on that. Excellent character overall and just the fight and competitiveness. That is a very good North Greenville team, that's well coached and has some really good players. It was a 90-minute battle and we knew that coming in. To claw back twice was wonderful."
North Greenville struck first in the 14th minute. Elainee Sprinkle headed home a corner kick from Aleisha Lamb to begin the scoring.
C-N had a response ten minutes later. Sophomore Molly Zander (Baneberry, Tenn.) was fouled inside the box, granting the Eagles a penalty kick. Felicia Frick (Eschen, Lichtenstein) stepped up and buried the penalty to tie the match at a goal apiece.
NGU managed to grab the lead again nine minutes into the second half. Aubrey Kramer sent a shot from well over 35 yards away into the back of the net to make it a 2-1 game.
Seven minutes later, C-N got the equalizer. After a quick corner kick, Addie Henry (Chattanooga, Tenn.) found Krista Nielsen (Saudarkrokur, Iceland) who delivered a rocket over top the NGU goalkeeper to level the match once again. Nielsen's equalizer was her first collegiate goal.
The next two Eagle goals were also first career collegiate goals as well. Anita Arnadottir (Alfantes, Iceland) sent a cross into the box where the ball found the foot of Alba Delgado (Oviedo, Spain) who booted a shot into the back of the net to give C-N its first lead in the 67th minute.
The Eagles would not relinquish that advantage, only add on to it. Freshman Karli Pettitt found herself in the right place at the right time, off a ball from Selina Jud (Wilderswil, Switzerland) to make the score 4-2 Eagles.
C-N's fifth and final goal came off another North Greenville foul in the penalty box. Frick stepped up and buried her second penalty kick of the afternoon to make it 5-2.
"The team trusts me with PK's, so I am very glad that I can take them," Frick said. "I just try to help the team as a PK scorer, being calm on the ball and winning the battles against the goalkeeper."
With less than a minute remaining, Finley Lloyd scored to give the visitors a third goal.
Junior Danielle Lacy (Rochester, Ill.) made her first start with the Eagles, recording three saves.
Carson-Newman outshot NGU 18-9 in the match, with 12 of those shots on goal. Thirteen different Eagles managed to record a shot attempt in the victory.
C-N continues its dominance at home under Duffy, improving to 39-8-5. Duffy's team have been virtually unbeatable when scoring three goals or more, improving that mark to 37-0-1.
Carson-Newman returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Lee for a 5:00 p.m. start from McCown field.
Team Stats
North Greenville
| Game Statistics | North Greenville | Carson-Newman |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 9 (6) | 18 (12) |
| Saves | 7 | 3 |
| Fouls | 15 | 10 |
| Corner Kicks | 3 | 7 |
| Offsides | 2 | 0 |
