No. 1 Seed Carson-Newman Claims 2017 SAC Women’s Soccer Tournament Crown

Rock Hill, S.C.----The top-seeded and second-ranked Carson-Newman University Eagles scored three goals in the first 13 minutes Sunday afternoon en route to a 4-0 victory over second-seeded Wingate University in the championship match of the 2017 South Atlantic Conference women's soccer tournament. The Eagles improve to 17-0-1 on the year, winning their third straight SAC Tournament championship. Wingate falls to 11-4 on the season.

The Bulldogs and Eagles were meeting in the SAC title match for the third consecutive season. Wingate was making its eighth straight trip to the SAC championship match. Carson-Newman earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Wingate will wait to earn its postseason fate when the field is announced Monday evening. The Bulldogs were ranked eighth in the most recent NCAA Southeast Region poll. Carson-Newman was third in the poll released last week.

The Eagles wasted no time getting on the board, with Magda Mosengo and Catarina Realista working quick touches to get Lauren Wade open in the left side of the box, where she sent one home for her 14th goal of the year.

Mosengo setup Madison Huffstetler five minutes later, touching one to the left side of the box for Huffstetler, who beat the keeper to net her second goal of the year.

Carson-Newman took a three-goal lead in the 13th minute, with Wade blasting one from 25 yards into the upper right corner, giving the Eagles a 3-0 lead.

Wingate's best chance came midway through the first half, when Taylor Leyble looked to tuck one in under the crossbar from 20 yards out, but Carson-Newman keeper Jacqueline Burns was there for the leaping save, touching it over the crossbar.

Wade finished off her hat trick in the 63rd minute, with Mosengo registering her third assist of the day, crossing one into the left side of the box where Wade lined one into the opposite corner to make it 4-0.

Wade was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, joining her teammates Mosengo, Realista and Helen Seedon the All-Tournament Team. Leyble earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team from Wingate, along with Kimmi Moore and Kristen DeBiase.

Carson-Newman finished the day with a 21-11 advantage in shots, holding a 13-2 edge in shots on goal. Burns had a pair of saves for the Eagles, while Alexis Jones piled up nine saves for the Bulldogs. Wade led all players with eight shots, including six shots on goal.  

2017 SAC Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Lauren Wade, Carson-Newman (MVP)
Magda Mosengo, Carson-Newman
Helen Seed, Carson-Newman
Catarina Realista, Carson-Newman
Taylor Lyble, Wingate
Kimmi Moore, Wingate
Kristen DeBiase, Wingate
Jordan Newby, Tusculum
Sonja Ballmert, Tusculum
Abby Helm, Anderson
Kristen Arnetta, Anderson