TFC Senior Day

TFC honored graduating senior players Travis Julian, Alex Kerr, and Eric Hankin and manager Matt Strecker on Saturday, Oct. 23.  The Eagles lost to NCAA D3 LaGrange University1-0  in their final game of the regular season. A much improved defense frustrated the LaGrange attack all afternoon long, relegating the Panthers to manageable long-range shots. Though LaGrange carried most of the possession, their offense never really threatened to break through. On the other end, TFC could not capitalize on their build up opportunities to generate scoring threats of their own. The Eagle’s best chance sailed inches wide of the left post as Tyler Timberlake pounced on a loose ball from 16 yds out.

Just as the game looked headed to OT, LaGrange caught a break. A TFC hand ball in the box with less than 5 minutes to go gave the visitors a PK and game winner. It was a heartbreaking end to a superb effort on the field.

The Eagles will seek to extend their season in a Regional playoff game against Atlanta Christian College in Atlanta on Wednesday.

TFC loses one, wins one in recent matches

TFC followed up their hard fought tie with Faulkner University with an uneven effort against visiting Florida College (USCAA) dropping the game 4-2.  Florida College used good speed to bring high defensive pressure.  The Eagles were sluggish out of the gates and struggled early to possess. FC grabbed an early lead when TFC failed to clear a corner kick and gave up a second chance opportunity.  Eric Bill equalized at the end of the half when the FC keeper bobbled his direct kick into the side netting.

The second half saw TFC settle into a better rhythm and play better defensively…but were undone once again by failed clears. FC twice scooped up loose balls in the box and made TFC pay for their mistake. A fourth goal came off an errant defensive pass that was blasted past helpless keeper Travis Julian.  The Eagles continued to press for their own goals and got one back late in the half when Eric Hankin scored his first of the season.  Missed opportunities and defensive miscues tilted the match in favor of FC.  The Eagles will seek to even the score this weekend in Florida.

TFC bounced back with a win against visiting Johnson Bible College 3-0.  Despite another sluggish and uninspired start, the Eagles held the road-weary Saints scoreless and capitalized on prime opportunities.  Dave Brown garnered his first goal of the season off a well-crafted corner kick. Tyler Timberlake added to the score minutes later when he slotted a through-ball from Alex Kerr in the box past the diving keeper. Timberlake returned the favor ten minutes later when he assisted Kerr’s goal just inside the top of the box.

TFC continued to control possession and tempo in the second half, but could not find the back of the net. Strong opportunities by Hankin, Bill, Timberlake, and freshman Michael Howell all failed to add to the score.

The teams head to Florida this weekend to face Clearwater and Florida College.

TFC earns draw with Faulkner University

Improved defensive play and a little bit of luck helped TFC earn a much needed draw with visiting Faulkner University out of Alabama.  The NAIA school defeated the Eagles 4-0 last season in Alabama, and were looking to snatch up another win this year on the road.  To further complicate things for TFC, illness and injury left two starters on the bench and two more with limited ability to play a full 90 minutes. Despite the setback, the Eagles played a disciplined, spirited defensive game that provided just enough offense to keep Faulkner out of their rhythm.  While Faulkner generated more shots, TFC was not without their scoring chances. The second half provided much of the same back and forth play. Faulkner seemed largely content to shoot from outside, but proved dangerous on corners and set pieces. Four times the visitors hit post or crossbar but could not get that elusive first goal.  Keeper Travis Julian had a strong game, including a tie-saving dive to his left that sent a low shot wide of the post. Meanwhile, the Eagles had their best chances in the second half, nearly scoring on a driving Eric Hankin cracker that just missed upper 90.

The game was an important developmental step for the developing Eagles. They will look to build on this game when Florida College (USCAA) comes to visit on Friday.

Eagles grab first win

Finally! The elusive first win of the season is in the bag for the TFC men’s soccer team as they defeated The Crown College (TN) 4-2 on Saturday.  The offense, which had only produced 1 goal in 5 games finally came together to create scoring chances. Tyler Timberlake exploded for 3 goals and freshman Loren Ellenberger nabbed his second of the season to provide the scoring.  The defense played well overall, giving up only a floating, mis-struck cross that floated off the far post and in in the first half and a questionable PK in the second.

The win was even more encouraging as it came without starting midfielder Eric Bill, who missed the game with a staph infection.  Starting GK Travis Julian was also limited to 30 minutes by injury, but backup Zach Bethea filled in admirably.  Eagles play next vs. Faulkner University (NAIA) at home on Wednesday.

Errors, offensive impotency doom Eagles at ACC

Dominance on the soccer field can be measured in a number of ways: possession, shots on goal, score.  Seeing that Atlanta Christian defeated TFC 3-0 in Atlanta, one might be tempted to think that ACC dominated the Eagles. Unfortunately, the only area that ACC had the edge was on the scoreboard.  TFC controlled much of the tempo and possession, kept ACC in their half, and nearly quadrupled the number of their opponents shots.  Two critical keeper errors allowed ACC to score two goals on three shots in the second half, and once again the Eagles found themselves in a hole too deep to get out of.

Especially when you can’t score.  When you put up 1 goal in 5 games, there aren’t ANY holes you will dig out of.  At the end of the day, the one quality goal that ACC earned was enough for the victory.  Until TFC finds its offensive rhythm and starts putting shots in the back of the net, they will feel the pressure of having to defend perfectly.  For the first time since the start of the season, TFC will have 3 days to prepare for their next opponent, Crown College (TN) at home on Saturday.

Defensive woes continue

Defense continues to be the TFC Men’s Soccer achilles heel.  Defending National Champion Clearwater Christian College came to town expecting to continue their dominance in the region.  TFC hoped to make a statement that they would challenge that dominance.  Those hopes were dashed in a second half defensive collapse that saw CCC explode for four second half goals and a 6-0 final.  The offense also struggled as they failed to score in their 3rd of 4 games.

The early season schedule has been brutal on the young and inexperienced Eagles.  Playing their 4th game in 9 days against quality opponents, TFC has struggled mightily.  First year head coach Rob Worsley remains optimistic that both problems are fixable. He won’t have much time to work on things as TFC heads to region foe Atlanta Christian on Tuesday.

TFC Men continue early skid

It took about 15 seconds for visiting Emmanuel College to set the tone for the evening.  EC took the opening kickoff, penetrated through the center of the defense and slotted their first shot off the far post and in for a stunning 1-0 lead. It only got worse from there. Playing their third tough game in six days, the Eagles looked sluggish all game long. They were not helped out when key defenseman Alex Kerr left with injury in the first ten minutes and could not return. TFC struggled to contain the faster Lions and found themselves in a 5-0 hole at half.

The second half only brought marginal improvement defensively, but better opportunities offensively. Freshman Loren Ellenberger scored his first career goal–and the team’s first of the season–to give TFC a small consolation. However EC put in 4 more goals for a final of 9-1.

There is little rest for the weary: the Eagles face region foe and defending National Champion Clearwater Christian on Friday @7.

TFC Men lose home opener to Piedmont

Improved team play did not translate into game success Saturday night as TFC dropped it’s home opener to Piedmont 6-0.  As one observer put it, the Christians still can’t beat the Lions.  PC punished a number of defensive mistakes to push the victory into the blowout stage.  The run of play, however, was not as lopsided as the score indicated.  The young Eagles were competitive in every area but the score with the bigger, faster PC team.  Despite falling into such deep hole, TFC showed grit by fighting hard to the whistle.

Eliminating the defensive lapses will be key if TFC hopes to reverse the losing streak, especially with NAIA Emmanuel College coming into town. Game time is 7 p.m. tomorrow night (Sept. 7).

Soccer teams kick off season with tough opponents

The TFC men’s and women’s soccer teams began their seasons this past week with some very difficult opponents. Both teams are looking to integrate many new faces on the roster and hopeful of competing for a Region crown.

The Lady Eagles’ first two opponents were looking to avenge losses from the previous year. They opened with Bryan College (NAIA), coached by former TFC player John Mark Sauve.  After a scoreless first half, Bryan erupted in the second half for a 5-0 win.  LaGrange College (NCAA DIII) got its chance at redemption a week later in LaGrange and defeated the Eagles 4-1.  Danae Martin scored the lone TFC goal.

The men kicked off their season with the first of three tough non-conference games. The rebuilding Eagles faced North Greenville University (NCAA DII) on the road and dropped a hard-fought match 3-0.  Their youth and inexperience showed as NGU capitalized on defensive miscues to take and keep the lead.  The Eagles follow up this game against a tough Piedmont College (NCAA DIII) squad on Saturday, Sept. 4 at home.

Former Eagle Plays for NPSL National Championship

Former TFC Eagle Jake Warren

Former TFC All-American player and current assistant coach Jake Warren did not hang up his boots once his college playing days were over.  Instead, for the past two summers Warren has continued to showcase his talent for Chattanooga Football Club of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a national semi-professional soccer league.

In only their second year of existence, Chattanooga earned a birth in the NPSL’s National Championship game on July 31 in Huntsville, AL.   After defeating the Madison (WI) 76ers 2-0, CFC advanced to face the surprising Sacramento Gold, who knocked off top seeded FC Sonic Lehigh Valley (PA) 4-1.  In the championship game, Sacramento won a hard-fought battle, dropping CFC 3-1.

Warren spent all of last season and the beginning of 2010 coming off the bench, but earned a starting spot in the midfield by mid-season.  Once earned, he never let it go and has proved to be a valuable contributor to CFC’s historic season.  In addition to the opportunity to continue to play high-level soccer, playing in the NPSL has also given Warren exposure to high-level competition and team organization, valuable experience that he brings back to Toccoa Falls College men’s soccer.

Some season highlights include a defeat of  FC Atlas (Mexico) U-23 in an international friendly and traveling to Washington, D.C. to play the DC United Reserves. Though they lost that match, it gave Warren a taste of what it takes to play at the next level.  When asked how it went, Warren indicated that the score (3-0) did not reflect that the match was pretty evenly played.  In other words, CFC (and Warren) played well with the bigger boys.

CFC vs. DC United Reserves

TFC: Did you feel like you belonged there?

JW: No doubt. Great experience.  We respected them a little too much, but it  felt good competing with guys at that level.

TFC: So when do you get your shot (at the next level)?

JW: Ha ha. Not sure about that. The next level is very physical and fast.  My body hurts more every day.  I’m not sure I’m there athletically, but you never know.

There’s no rest for the weary.  Warren returns to TFC in a week to serve as an assistant on the men’s soccer team as they kick off their summer training camp.  Congrats, Jake, on a great summer in the NPSL.