October 29, 2006

Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Soccer Wins The 2006 Food Lion SAC Men's Tournament After Defeating Carson-Newman, 2-1

Bears win their third league tournament title in school history

Jefferson City, Tenn. - The No. 12 Lenoir-Rhyne College Men's Soccer Team (18-1) won its third Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament in school history with a 2-1 win over Carson-Newman College (14-1-2) Sunday afternoon in Jefferson City, Tenn.

The Bears, who also won the league tournament in 1992 and 2000, handed the second-ranked Eagles their first defeat of the 2006 season.

The squads were the top two teams in the tournament this season.

With the score tied at one in the 78th minute, sophomore midfielder Gary Higgins (Paisley, Scotland/St. Andrews Academy) scored the game-winner
in the 78th minute and the Bears held off a furious Eagle rally en route to the win.

Sophomore forward Rocky Gifford (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins HS) opened the scoring for L-R with a controversial goal in the 12th minute but Carson-Newman quickly evened things with less than a minute later when David Carrasco (Malaga, Spain) scored from 25 yards out.

However, the Bears were able to keep the Eagles at bay before Higgins' heroics sealed the victory.

Carson-Newman, despite losing, held a 20-7 advantage in shots.

Lenoir-Rhyne and Carson-Newman each handed the other their lone defeat on the season.

Freshman goalkeeper Mark Jorgensen (Ringwood, Australia/Aquinas College) stopped seven shots for L-R en route to the win while Tyler Baldock (Surrey, British Columbia) suffered the loss.

The two squads now await their berths in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, which will be announced Monday at 10:00 a.m.

Box Score