Lady Eagles Report To Preseason Camp
Aug. 11, 2008
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles reported to camp Monday to prepare for their 2008 season.
Head Coach Phil McNamara and the Lady Eagles are eager for the new season, which begins Aug. 31, but have some hard work ahead of them with a tough 2008 schedule to come.
"Everyone is aware the caliber of players we have graduated the last two seasons," said McNamara, who is entering his seventh season with Carson-Newman. "We could face a bit of a transitional period with our program. We have enjoyed remarkable success the last five or six years, and it'll be tough to maintain."
The Lady Eagles will have to replace six key seniors to keep their streak of five-straight NCAA Tournament berths alive, and that burden falls on the shoulders of a number of underclassmen.
"We will be very young," says McNamara, "but this is an opportunity to gain valuable experience. Our schedule will prove the most difficult ever, which in itself will offer a major challenge, but also an excellent learning environment for our young squad."
This year's season will be full of some exciting new changes to the Eagle soccer program; the first includes new lighting for McCown Field. The lighting is just one of the latest facility transformations at Carson-Newman, made possible by contributions to the Roland File Memorial Lighting Fund.
"I'm really excited for what this season can offer this group of players, stated McNamara. "The program has already taken a huge step forward with the introduction of lights on the game field. Evening games will add a new dimension to our program and also our campus social scene. Our home support should be much better, not that we have lights. We are extremely thankful to all our donors, but especially for the work and support of Chris Cates in our Advancement Office, Steve File and a set of parents from our current team."
The Lady Eagles will rely on leadership from senior All-Conference selection Brittany Moore (Lenoir City, Tenn.)and sophomore All-South Atlantic Conference selection Morgan Gruenenfielder (Sweetwater, Tenn.) .
Forward Nikki Brannen (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) will be sidelined for the season with an injury. The senior, a first team All-SAC selection, was last year's squad's highest goal scorer.
"We are disappointed for Nikki Brannen," expressed McNamara, "Brittany Moore and Morgan Gruenenfielder will need to have great individual seasons, along with a number of freshmen who will need to mature quickly. Our goal is to 'believe' and to work to get better each week of the season."
The Lady Eagles will face Tennessee Tech in an exhibition match on August 19th at 6:00 pm, with the season opener on August 31st as part of a doubleheader against Chowan University. The women's soccer team will take to the field at 1:00 pm, with men's action to follow at 3:00 pm.
