Men’s soccer prepares for first Final Four in program history

(Dec. 4, 2013) – Carson-Newman (15-5-1) faces the NCAA’s lone international program, British Columbia’s No. 12 Simon Fraser (18-2-2) in the Final Four Thursday at 8 p.m.

“We’re excited; we’re getting geared up,” Carson-Newman head soccer coach Richard Moodie said. “We are already down here in Evans, (Ga. – the site of the Division II men’s and women’s soccer Final Fours) and are on our way to practice right now.”

Both Carson-Newman and Simon Fraser are four seeds from their respective regions.

On Nov. 24, the Eagles defeated Rollins 2-1 on the Tars’ home field in Winter Park, Fla. to advance to the Final Four.

Ross Frame (Welshpool, Powys, United Kingdom) scored the first goal of the match in the ninth minute of action. Frame is now tied for seventh in the nation with 18 goals. He is tied for ninth in the nation with 10 assists.

Frame’s 18 goals are fifth most in a single season in Carson-Newman history. Ryan Williams holds the record with 23 from the 1995 campaign.

In the 70th minute, Nick Skoda (Knoxville, Tenn.), recently back from injury, scored what would be the winning goal giving him three goals on the year. The Tars’ had a poor clearance on which Skoda capitalized; he lofted the ball right under the crossbar leaving the goalie no chance at a save.

“A lot of people have reached out,” Moodie said. “We are very thankful for all the support we’ve received thus far, and we are grateful to everyone that will be venturing down to Georgia.”

Simon Fraser put up a 5-0 victory over Regis University in Denver, Co. on Nov. 24 to advance to the semifinals.

The goal scoring was opened in the sixth minute by Ryan Dhillon. Colin Jacques, Carlo Basso, Alexander Kleefeldt, and Jovan Blagojavic each supplied additional points.

Dhillon, Basso and Alex Rowley each contributed an assist.

The win gives the Clan its second consecutive trip to the Final Four.

“We are privileged to be a part of the first team in Carson-Newman history to make it this far in the tournament,” Moodie said. “It’s a great setup, and we’re looking forward to a great tournament.”

Carson-Newman had not advanced to the Final Four prior to this season. The Eagles’ deepest run in the NCAA tournament came in 2005 when the Eagles’ made it all the way to the Elite Eight before bowing out. That year was the second in a string of seven consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament for the Eagles.

The winner of this match will advance to the national championship game to play the winner of No. 14 Rockhurst and No. 2 Southern New Hampshire in Evans, Ga. Saturday at 3 p.m. The matches can be followed live at http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2013/12/05.

^{– C-N Sports Information Office}