Friday, November 9, 2007

CARSON-NEWMAN, LINCOLN MEMORIAL ADVANCE TO NCAA APPALACHIAN REGION FINAL

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Lincoln Memorial and Carson-Newman have made it an all East Tennessee final as the Railsplitters and Eagles recorded opening round victories.

No. 3 Carson-Newman 3, No. 2 Tusculum 1

Omar Cooke recorded a pair of goals, including the match-winner in the 78^th minute as No. 3 seed Carson-Newman defeated second-seeded Tusculum 3-1 Friday night in a first round match of the 2007 NCAA Division II Appalachian Region Men’s Soccer Tournament, held at TC’s Pioneer Field

Carson-Newman (13-3-1) punches its ticket for Sunday’s region final against top-seeded Lincoln Memorial at 1 p.m. Tusculum ends its season at 11-9-2.

Cooke got the Eagles on the scoreboard in the 28^th minute when he dribbled through three Tusculum defenders and punch a shot to the right side of the goal for a 1-0 lead.

Tusculum got the equalizer in the second half when Bruno Conceicão bended a shot to the high right corner for his 21^st goal of the season. The score was assisted by Enrique Haeussler.

The score would remain tied until the 77:57 mark as Cooke beat TC keeper Lance Moore with a blast to the lower right corner and a 2-1 advantage. The Eagles added an insurance goal when an Eagle was fouled hard in the penalty box in the 86^th minute. Lance Moore stopped Jakop Storhaug’s penalty kick, but Faisal knocked in the rebound for the final margin of victory.

Lance Moore finished with three saves, while Carson-Newman’s Jonathan Moore made three stops.

“We played very aggressive throughout tonight’s match,” said C-N coach Allen Vital. ”We kept up our intensity level all during the match and it made the difference. We will have are hands full, facing LMU again, but I feel we can answer the challenge.”

“This was disappointing end to a remarkable season,” said TC coach Brett Teach. “Not many had us getting to this point, but our players believed in what we are trying to do and I’m so proud of them, especially our seniors.”

No. 1 Lincoln Memorial 2, No. 4 Wingate 1

Nelson Pizarro recorded a goal and an assist as top-seeded Lincoln Memorial defeated No. 4 seed Wingate 2-1 Friday in the opening match of the 2007 NCAA Division II Appalachian Region Men’s Soccer Tournament. The tournament is being held at Pioneer Field on the campus of Tusculum College.

Wingate (16-5-1) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 29^th minute as Luke Mulholland connected on his 10^th goal of the season on a pass by Stephen Kehoe.

LMU (17-3-1) tallied the equalizer at the 36:00 mark when Leonardo de Barros blasted a shot from 20 yards out, deflecting off a Wingate player to the foot of Pizarro. He deposited the shot into the right corner of the goal for his 12^th scoring tally of the year as the score was tied at halftime at 1-1.

At the 54:56 mark, Pereira broke the deadlock with his 23^rd goal of the season. The goal was assisted by Guilherme Alves and Pizarro.

LMU had another golden scoring chance in the 68^th minute as de Barros blasted a shot from top of the penalty box, but an acrobatic save by Wingate’s Joe Calandra kept the deficit at one goal.

But the save of the night came from LMU’s Brent Cole. In the 72^nd minute, Mulholland bent a shot heading for the left corner of the goal, but Cole made a beautiful kick save, maintaining the LMU lead.

“We played a disciplined match this evening, while defeating a very good Wingate team,” said LMU head coach Helio D’Anna. “Both keepers played extremely well and kept their teams in the match. I’m very proud how our team stepped up tonight.”

“I’m very disappointed with how our season ended tonight, but I’m very proud and happy in how our team performed this season,” said Wingate head Gary Hamill. “We put seven freshmen and three sophomores out there tonight and I was pleased with our performance.

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