VIDEO: Stephen Lyons interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- Conceding its first goal in 350 minutes of shutout action, Carson-Newman was handed its first loss in South Atlantic Conference action on a Bar Galanti goal in the 104th minute, falling 2-1 to Anderson on Saturday night at McCown Field.
Carson-Newman (7-3, 5-1) sees its winning streak on the year snap at seven, the last loss coming at Shorter on September 4. The team's conference and home winning streaks also come to an end at 10 and five, respectively. While it was the third straight meeting with Anderson (7-2-1, 4-2-1) that required two overtime periods, it is the first loss to the club since 2015 and the first at home in the series overall, ending a four-match unbeaten streak against the Trojans. It is the first double-overtime loss for the program since falling to Wingate, 2-1, back on Sept. 14, 2013.
"You've always got to learn from your losses," Carson-Newman coach Stephen Lyons said. "I thought we had some really good spells in the game. It was a typical SAC battle, so it flowed both ways. I thought just at times we had to weather too many corners. We weren't really clearing the ball as well as we should have and they were putting that threat back on us. Ultimately, there in the second overtime, that was what got them the goal."
Both sides conceded goals for the first time in three matches on the year. The Trojans outshot C-N 23-14, marking the most shots allowed by the Eagles since Catawba attempted 25 on Oct. 26, 2019. It is just the second time this season that Carson-Newman ended on the short-end of the shot tally and the first time this season that Lyons' group has lost after scoring the first goal.
A team known for lining up for corners, C-N was award just six in the match. Anderson's 13 corner kicks mark the most for an opponent since Rollins took 14 on Nov. 24, 2013.
Carson-Newman was awarded a free kick in the 17th minute that pinged off some players in the box before meeting the head of Yannick Kranz (Hannover, Germany). His header sailed across the mouth of the net where Gabe Martin (Corryton, Tenn.) attempted a shot that was deflected away at the right post.
A foul on the Eagles in the 30th minute set up the Trojans with a set piece for Agustin Ortiz between the penalty kick spot and the six-yard box. With 10 Eagles lined up on the goal line of the net, he sent his chance flying high above the crossbar, keeping the match even.
Anderson led shooting 6-4 through the opening 45 minutes, 2-1 for ones landed on frame.
It took until the 60th minute for Carson-Newman to find the break it needed when Kranz sent a long cross into the 18-yard box to Harry Whitehead (Oxford, England) who had a swarm of Trojans around him. He tried a header that was deflected by Anderson keeper Gal Elyashiv back to Whitehead, giving him a second chance that he pushed into the back right corner for a 1-0 lead.
The goal marked the third for the junior this season, seventh for his career. It ended Anderson's shutout streak at 343 minutes.
In the 70th minute, Nic Carsh (Newberg, Ore.) had a chance to push the lead out to a pair but was called offside in the mouth of the net. Seconds later, Anderson capitalized with a long pass from Yani Diange to Alexandre Cox-Ashwood that he pushed from the top of the 18-yard box to tie the match, 1-1.
His equalizer was the first opposition goal allowed by the Orange and Blue defense in 350 minutes of play since September 25.
A last-ditch effort from Anderson in the waning seconds saw Bram Kaarsgaren (Den Bosh, The Netherlands) gobble up an attempt by Cox-Ashwood next to the left post, sending the match into overtime.
In the first overtime period, Kaarsgaren came up big yet again with a diving save on an Ortiz chance from nearly eight yards out that he pawed away in the 99th minute.
The second overtime period brought another big-time save for the senior. A corner for the Trojans in the 102nd minute ended with a long laser from Ortiz yet again that Kaarsgaren leaped up to send away with his outstretched right hand.
Anderson was given another corner seconds later. Bryce Goodwyn feed inside bounced off some players before a bounce at the goal line allowed Galanti to deflect a shot in to end the match, 2-1.
Whitehead led C-N with eight shots on the night, setting a new single-match career high. Three of his attempts landed on frame.
Kaarsgaren moves to 6-3 on the year after facing a season-high 23 shots that he made nine saves of, also a new high mark for the year.
Ortiz was the leader for Anderson with nine shot attempts and accounted for nearly half of the team's 11 shots on goal with five.
Netminder Gal Elyashiv made four saves in the contest.
The Eagles take flight to Harrogate on Wednesday for a rivalry showdown with Lincoln Memorial. That match from the LMU Soccer Complex will begin at 3:30 p.m.
