LMU Men’s Soccer Team May Gain Respect From Win Over Tenth-Ranked Carson-Newman

JEFFERSON CITY, TN – On Wednesday afternoon, the Lincoln Memorial University men’s soccer team traveled to Jefferson City, Tennessee and defeated the tenth-ranked Eagles of Carson-Newman College 1-0 to remain undefeated in the South Atlantic Conference and Appalachian Region play.

Although Wednesday’s victory is just one more step toward defending last season’s 2006 Appalachian Region crown, it may help the Railsplitters to recover in the national rankings.  Lincoln Memorial started the off the season as the #5 team in the country in NCAA Division II men’s soccer but fell out of the top-25 with early season losses to Lewis University and Barry University.  The victory over Carson-Newman may garner enough votes to break back into the rankings providing the Railsplitters can take care of business this Saturday when they travel to Clinton, South Carolina to take on former South Atlantic Conference opponent Presbyterian College.

The only score in Wednesday’s match came in the second minute when LMU’s Marcelo Galafassi (Jundiai, Brazil) was fouled in the box.  The incident gave the Railsplitters an opportunity for a penalty kick which sophomore Felipe Nogueira (Uberaba, Brazil) placed into the far corner to give LMU a 1-0 lead.  The goal proved to be the fatal blow to the Eagles who suffer their first loss of the season and now stand at 8-1 overall and 1-1 in the South Atlantic Conference.

As was the case in both LMU versus Carson-Newman men’s soccer matches last season, this year’s meeting was a defensive struggle.  Neither team gave up a goal from the field.  Railsplitter goalkeeper Brent Cole (Knoxville, TN) exhibited why he was all-region last season by denying six shots-on-goal by the Carson-Newman offensive attack.