HICKORY, N.C. - The No. 1 seeded Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Soccer Team will head to Matthews, N.C. for the semi-final round of the SAC Tournament. The Bears will face off against No. 5 seed Carson-Newman at the Sportsplex at Matthews on Friday, Nov. 10 for a spot in Sunday's Championship.
The Bears defeated Mars Hill, 2-0, on Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Moretz Sports Athletic Campus to advance to Friday's semifinals thanks to goals by
Neve Duston and
Ria Acton The Bears will enter the contest with the Eagles with the longest active winning streak in all of Division II with 12-straight victories. Lenoir-Rhyne also moved up to No. 6 in this week's coaches poll, its highest ranking of the season.
On the other hand, the Eagles got an equalizer in the 68th minute to tie Anderson on Saturday, Nov. 4, before Felicia Frick sent them to the semifinals with her goal in double overtime, happening just two minutes to spare before PK's. The win also helped the Eagles jump two spots in the NCAA regional rankings as C-N is now in the eighth spot heading into the final week.
The two teams squared off in Jefferson City, Tenn. on Oct. 7 as the Bears defeated the Eagles, 3-0. Carson-Newman has played the Bears tight lately, although LR has won the past five meetings.
Elin Hansson, who was named the SAC Offensive Player of the Year on Wednesday, Nov. 8 has scored in both of her games against Carson-Newman in her career, looking to make it three on Friday. Joining Hansson in landing major awards includes
Ria Acton, who was named SAC Defensive Player of the Year, while Head Coach
Dean Ward earned the SAC Coach of the Year. In total, the Bears had a record nine players who were made All-Conference Teams.
Speaking of records, Duston will tie
Stephanie Figueiredo record on Friday with her 89th career game for the Bears. Duston will hope to have the record to herself on Championship Sunday if the Bears were able to advance.
The winner of Friday's match up between the Bears and Eagles will have time to watch the other semifinal as No. 2 seed Catawba will face off with No. 3 seed Wingate at 2 p.m. as the LR and C-N will be the first game of the day at 11 a.m. The winners of the respective semifinals will kick-off on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. from Matthews for the title.
The Bears hope this is not their only trip to Matthews this season as the city was just named the host site of the 2023 Women's Soccer Final Four and National Championship game just a few weeks ago. The Bears held strong at the No. 1 ranking in the final NCAA regional rankings that came out on Wednesday, Nov. 8.
Friday morning's contest will be the 11th meeting between the Eagles and Bears in the postseason, all in the SAC Tournament. The Bears hold a 6-4 record and have won the last three games. The Bears won the first three meetings, then the Eagles won four straight during six-year span from 2004-2009 before the Bears won the last three meetings as mentioned, which includes a 1-0 win in the 2020-21 Quarterfinals, which was the Bears last title.
With a win on Friday, the Bears would advance to their 10th SAC Championship as LR is looking for their fourth SAC title this weekend. Kick-off is scheduled for 11:00 am on Friday from Sportsplex at Matthews.
