by Jason Mehl
Director of TFC Sports Information
The Toccoa Falls College women’s soccer team (4-8) won one of two games last week. On Oct. 5 the Lady Eagles lost a heartbreaker at home to Warren Wilson College, 2-1, in overtime. Neither team scored in the first half, but Warren Wilson scored early in the second half. TFC battled back and Kallie Richards scored off a long pass from Siara Stacey to tie the game. Then, with two minutes left in the second 10-minute overtime period, Warren Wilson scored and won 2-1. Though she could not stop the final goal, Head Coach Doug Howell praised the play of first-year goalkeeper Layne Arnold, who had six saves for the game.
On Oct 8, the Lady Eagles beat Judson College (Alabama) 2-1 in front of the TFC Homecoming crowd. In the first half Breanna Schultz took a corner kick and put it in front of the goal and Rachelle Albright put the ball in the back of the net for her first goal of the year and TFC’s first goal of the game.
Later in the half, Danae Martin scored off another assist from Schultz. The TFC defense held Judson to just three shots in the second half and Arnold made a couple of great plays on balls in the penalty area, right off the feet of Judson players to protect the lead. Judson did manage one goal with ten minutes remaining in the game, but the Lady Eagles held on to win.
The TFC men’s soccer team lost two close games last week. The same night as the women’s Warren Wilson loss, the men lost 2-1 in overtime at Piedmont College in Demorest. Neither team scored until Eric Bill scored on a give-and-go with Mike Howell with fifteen minutes remaining in the second half. But Piedmont evened the score at 1-1 less than a minute later with a goal of their own. Then, halfway through the second overtime period, TFC was called for a violation in the penalty box and Piedmont scored the penalty kick and won 2-1.
The men (4-8-1) played their Homecoming game against Virginia Intermont College (NAIA) and lost 1-0, again in overtime. Though the game was scoreless until the Virginia Intermont finished it in the second overtime period, it was exciting. Both teams were physical and aggressive on offense and defense and there were stretches where goals felt imminent, though they were not scored. Virginia Intermont’s game-winning goal came, again, off a penalty kick awarded to them in the second overtime period.
The TFC volleyball team won two out of three games last week to even their record at 10-10. The loss came at home on Oct. 4 to Catawba Valley Community College, 3-2. TFC won the first meeting of the schools on the road last month 3-2, but was unable to pull off the home victory. The Lady Eagles lost the first set 25-21, won the second set 25-16, and lost the third 28-26. TFC had to win the fourth set to stay alive, and they won it convincingly, 25-15. But Catawba Valley responded and won the back-and-forth fifth set 17-15. Bethany Slate had 29 kills, 27 digs and two blocks. Caroline Johnson had 16 kills and 11 digs. Kayla Peters had 11 kills and Tiffany Poole had 14 digs. Mary Willis had 11 digs and 62 assists.
On Oct. 6 TFC beat Spelman College in Atlanta, 3-0. TFC won the first set 25-17. In the second set they were losing by six points and Britney Eitutis went down with an ankle injury. Head Coach Selina Slate adjusted the line-up, Rachel Morris replaced Eitutis, and the Lady Eagles came back and won that set 25-23. They went on to win the third set 25-19. Bethany Slate had 20 digs and 18 kills. Johnson had 10 kills and Willis had 38 assists.
The Lady Eagles picked up another win by forfeit on Oct. 8 when West Georgia Technical College did not travel for their game.
The TFC cross country team hosted the annual Eagle Invitational on Oct. 7. In a close finish, TFC freshman Clessie Kendrick won the women’s 5k race in 21:50, seven seconds ahead Erica Brooks from Young Harris College. TFC’s Alisha Carlson finished 10th in the women’s race. Young Harris was the team champion of the women’s race.
TFC’s Ben Pigott finished 3rd overall in the men’s 8k race, with a personal best time of 28:47. Kenyan Alex Bitok, from Young Harris, won the men’s race and Truett-McConnell College won the team championship of the men’s race.
