Nov. 10, 2007

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- Omar Cooke recorded a pair of goals, including the match-winner in the 78th minute as No. 3 seed Carson-Newman defeated second-seeded Tusculum 3-1 Friday night in a first round match of the 2007 NCAA Division II Appalachian Region Men's Soccer Tournament, held at TC's Pioneer Field.

Carson-Newman (13-3-1) punches its ticket for Sunday's region final against top-seeded Lincoln Memorial at 1 p.m. Tusculum ends its season at 11-9-2.

Cooke got the Eagles on the scoreboard in the 28th minute when he dribbled through three Tusculum defenders and punched a shot to the right side of the goal for a 1-0 lead.

Tusculum got the equalizer in the second half when Bruno Conceicão bended a shot to the high right corner for his 21st goal of the season. The score was assisted by Enrique Haeussler.

The score would remain tied until the 77:57 mark as Cooke beat TC keeper Lance Moore with a blast to the lower right corner and a 2-1 advantage. The Eagles added an insurance goal when an Eagle was fouled hard in the penalty box in the 86th minute. Lance Moore stopped Jakop Storhaug's penalty kick, but Faisal knocked in the rebound for the final margin of victory.

Lance Moore finished with three saves, while Carson-Newman's Jordan Moore made three stops.

"We played very aggressive throughout tonight's match," said C-N coach Allen Vital. "We kept up our intensity level all during the match and it made the difference. We will have are hands full, facing LMU again, but I feel we can answer the challenge."