GAFFNEY, S.C. -- Carson-Newman (13-5) toppled Anderson (S.C.) (13-6-3) 3-2 in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday afternoon. The Eagles advance to play No. 1 seed Limestone on Saturday.
The Eagles fell to Anderson in the second round of their last NCAA tournament appearance in 2009. C-N last made the third round in 2005 when the Eagles advanced all the way to the national quarterfinals.
Anderson opened the scoring in the 29th minute when Aaron Robinson led a pass in for Andre Carle who chipped a ball over the keeper to the back post.
Less than 20 seconds later, Nick Skoda answered by blasting in a right-footed shot directly between the sticks. Ross Frame claimed the assist.
"I thought we were the better team," C-N head coach Richard Moodie said. "We created lots of chances."
Four minutes into the second half, Frame put in a goal of his own, his 16th of the season, to take the lead. Sindre Welo flicked the ball across the box where Frame redirected the ball past the keeper.
Nico Noll gave the Eagles a two-goal cushion 10 minutes later. Matheus Bachi flicked on a free kick; Noll met the ball and one-timed it past the keeper for his sixth goal of the year.
Anderson received a free kick from 15 yards out in the 85th minute. Bernd Muxel tapped the ball to make it live; Martin Brain struck the ball through the Eagles' wall. C-N keeper Nick Martin was able to react quickly and get a hand on the ball, but it still found its way into the side netting for the Trojan's second goal.
"Nick Martin had an absolute blinder of a game," Moodie said. "He made some great saves."
Martin made three saves during the course of the match. The Eagles as a team was credited for two saves.
"We have to do a bit better capitalizing on set plays," Moodie said.
Carson-Newman outshot Anderson 16 to 12. Kristian Speake led the Eagles in shots having taken four, three of which were on frame.
Carle also released four shots and landed three on net for the Trojans.
