JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- Carson-Newman used a sixth-straight clean sheet to punch its ticket to the South Atlantic Conference Spring Championship semifinals for the first time since 2018, taking down Lincoln Memorial 4-0 in Monday night's quarterfinal at McCown Field.
This marks the first SAC quarterfinal win at home for Carson-Newman (7-1-1) since 2015, snapping a two-match losing skid in such matches. On the year, C-N extends its winning streak to six-straight. It is now 1-5 in postseason meetings with Lincoln Memorial (2-5) all-time.
The four goals scored Monday are the most by the Eagles in a SAC Tournament game since they won 4-0 over Brevard on Nov. 3, 2015, also in the quarterfinals. It matched the most for the group this year, also scoring four in the win over Belmont Abbey in the season opener on February 13. C-N has scored three or more goals five of the last six matches this season, four-in-a-row during that span.
"The guys have been a different class, really, back to front," Carson-Newman coach Stephen Lyons said. "There at nil-nil in the first half, Bram (Kaarsgaren) came up with a huge save, and you know, building on clean sheets is always going to be a positive thing. I actually thought the second half was where we really started to connect a little bit better and play some better football. I think we created more opportunities in the second half and did a good job of putting them away."
Thaylan Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil) played a part in three of the goals scored by Carson-Newman, scoring one and assisting with the following two for a four-point outing. His two assists in the contest move him into the top 10 of the program's career assists list, currently in a tie for sixth with Sindre Welo (2012-15) at 15.
His goal opened up the scoring attack with the rest being scored in a second half that saw C-N send out 12 of its 17 shots on the night. It was just the second time in the past five games that the Eagles did not face a scoreless stalemate at the break. The last time was at Tusculum on March 29 where C-N was up 1-0 at the break, as well.
Bram Kaarsgaren (Den Bosch, The Netherlands) picked up his seventh clean sheet of the season, moving him to standalone seventh for single season shutouts in program history. He also moves to the fourth-most in career history among C-N keepers with 11.1, putting him six away from a top-three position. He is now 7-1-1 on the year,
Silva's opening goal came in the 28th minute after Harry Whitehead (Oxford, England) passed into the box 18-yard box to find the open senior. He quickly tapped in a chance past a standing Robin Hermann from six yards out. His goal for the 1-0 advantage marks his fourth of the season.
"To be honest, we were thinking the past few games that we needed to score in the first half. That was the mentality," Silva said. "So, as soon as I played the ball to Harry over the top, I said, 'I have to get it into the box,' because we need an early goal. As soon as I saw the ball crossing in, I just put my body in and it was a goal. It's good to score in the first half. Just makes the game easy."
Just two minutes into the second half, Silva turned around an assist to push the Orange and Blue lead to two. The senior delivered a through pass to Theo Hardenby Öhrwall (Stockholm, Sweden) steps inside of the penalty box. He sent a shot skidding past a falling Hermann and into the back left corner for his fourth goal of his freshman campaign.
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— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) April 6, 2021
Eagles up by ✌️
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Silva provided another helping hand, this time in the 64th minute. He lined up for a corner on the right side of the pitch, sending an arching shot past the left post where Whitehead found the available ball. His subsequent shot deflected off the foot of a 'Splitter and into the net, giving C-N a 3-0 lead with the only shot he landed on frame. Much like the two goal-scorers before him, Whitehead is up to four goals this year.
That was the first goal for the Eagles off of a corner since Oct. 2, 2019 when Kensho Yoshikoshi netted one against Lenoir-Rhyne.
The Orange and Blue dagger came in the 89th minute as Benjamin Stein (Berlin, Germany) capitalized on an empty LMU net for his second goal of the season. Hermann got off his line in an attempt to make a sliding steal near the midfield, but Stein was able to get past him, regain control of the ball and sail past a few oncoming Railsplitters to send a shot in easily from 18 yards out.
Empty net?
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) April 6, 2021
Empty net.
Ben Stein with the dagger in the 88th to seal the deal and send the Eagles to the semifinals!
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Carson-Newman led the shot tally 5-3 by the halftime break, 2-1 for shots on goal. In the end, C-N outshot the 'Splitters 17-6, 8-2 for those on frame. Whitehead led everyone on the pitch with five shot attempts. Silva and Öhrwall trailed him with four and three shots, respectively, both landing two on frame.
Lincoln Memorial had the strongest chance of either side to score first in the sixth minute as Kaarsgaren quickly pushed away a header from Josue Camacho near the right post. The next best chance LMU had at scoring ended with another Kaarsgaren save in the 67th minute after an attempt by Hunter Stroble. They both led their team with two shots each.
The Eagles forced the Railsplitters to make four saves in the contest, three of those by Hermann in net.
With the win, Carson-Newman advances to the semifinal round of the SAC Spring Championship Tournament, hosting fourth-seeded Wingate, the No. 11 team in the nation, on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from McCown Field.
