Carson-Newman, Lenoir-Rhyne Advance To Food Lion SAC Women’s Soccer Championship

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Top-seed Carson-Newman College advanced to the championship of the 2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference women's soccer tournament with a 2-1 victory over Catawba. Carson-Newman will face Lenoir-Rhyne University, which advanced on penalty kicks after a double-overtime scoreless tie with Tusculum.

The women's championship on Sunday begins at 4 p.m. at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, S.C.

Carson-Newman 2, Catawba 1

The top-seeded Carson-Newman College women's soccer team (17-2-1) picked up a 2-1 win over fourth-seeded Catawba (13-5-2) Friday evening in the semifinals of the 2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament at Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex. With the victory, the Lady Eagles earn a shot to claim their fourth league tournament title since 2004 Sunday.

After a scoreless first half, Catawba scored the first goal of the match in the 54th minute. Alyssa Retundie (Mooresville, N.C.) received a through ball from Tasha Wilhelm (Mt. Savage, Md.) that she placed in the bottom corner of the net from 12 yards out.

Carson-Newman equalized just after the hour mark (63:23). Sohomore midfielder Sandra Kaelin (Trachslau, SWITZERLAND) settled a pass from junior midfielder Morgan Grunenfelder (Sweetwater, Tenn.) that deflected off of freshman midfielder Andrea Saevik (Bolandet, NORWAY) and placed it in the back of the net.

The Lady Eagles tallied the match-winner with just 8:02 remaining in the match. Sophomore forward Trenna Howell (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) curled a shot that deflected off a defender into the goal for her team-leading 12th score of the season.

Sophomore Lauren MacKenzie (Barrie, Ontario, CANADA) picked up the win in goal for Carson-Newman as she stopped four Lady Indian shots. Lindsay Webster (Hopkinton, Mass.)suffered the loss for Catawba, tallying four saves on the night as well.

Lenoir-Rhyne 0, Tusculum 0 (2 OT, Lenoir-Rhyne advances on penalty kicks, 4-3)

The Lenoir-Rhyne University women's soccer team (14-6-2) advanced to the 2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Championship after edging Tusculum College (14-4-3) on penalty kicks, 4-3, at Manchester Meadows Friday afternoon. The sixth-seeded Bears battled the second-seeded Pioneers to a scoreless draw after two overtimes.

Lenoir-Rhyne will face top-seeded Carson-Newman College (17-2-1) in the finals on Sunday beginning at 4 p.m.

The first round of penalty kicks ended in a 3-3 tie before Elizabeth Hawes (Valdese, N.C.) hit the fourth penalty shot in the second round that proved to be the game-winner.

Lenoir-Rhyne held a 20-9 advantage in shots including four shots on goal by Laura Linehan (San Diego, Calif.) but couldn't score.

Both goalkeepers, Tusculum's Marjaana Kaaresvirta (Turka, FINLAND) and Lenoir-Rhyne's Katelyn Burwell (Carthage, N.C.), picked up the shutouts. Kaaresvirta tallied nine saves while Burwell stopped seven shots.