As you've likely heard, we don't have any live-action contests to cover at LetsGoPeay.com right now. What we do have is free time; oodles and oodles of free time. Enough free time to swap oodles of emails with various people who would know to create a snapshot of the best athletes in Austin Peay soccer history. Up next on our list is one of the finest shot-stoppers in program history.
The path for Carley Newman to become one of the most prolific goal keepers in Austin Peay history may not have been the conventional one, as the Memphis native was a midfielder and backup goalie during her prep days at St. Agnes Academy. In her freshman season, Newman played in 11 games as a defender, while making just one appearance in net.
During her time as a defender, Newman made the most of her minutes and dished out her first career assist in the 67th minute of a win against Lambuth. Three weeks later, Newman posted a pair of assists to help led the Govs to victory over North Alabama in the regular-season finale. Despite only playing in 11 games, Newman's three assist co-led the Governors for the 2007 season.
Newman entered her sophomore season as the Governors backup keeper, but after a pair of losses to open the season, she found herself as the starter in net for game three against Lipscomb. Newman made a pair of saves against the Bison and led the Govs to a shutout-victory, solidifying her spot as the starting keeper. Newman would go on to make a career-high 90 saves in 2009, while posting three more shutout wins.
In 2009 Newman was the Govs starting keeper in all 17 games which she appeared in. On September 27 and October 2, Newman posted back-to-back double-overtime-shutout draws against Eastern Kentucky and Southeast Missouri. In the second shutout against Southeast Missouri, Newman made a career-high 17 saves, which is the fourth best single-game total in program history.
The 2010 season saw the Governors have the best season in program history, in large part due to Newman having the best season in net in program history. The Govs keepers posted 13 shutouts on the season, and Newman was directly responsible for a single-season record eight of those shutouts. In her senior campaign, Newman also set the single-season records for goals-against average (0.57), save percentage (.855%), and victories (15).
In her first trip to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, Newman led the Govs past the first round for the first time in program history with a shutout win against Murray State. Newman and the Governors would go on to knock off Southeast Missouri, 3-1, in the semifinals before falling to Morehead State in the Championship match. Newman was named to the OVC All-Tournament team, and along with Tatiana and Natalia Ariza, she was the first Gov to ever receive this honor.
Despite only playing three full seasons as a goal keeper, Newman ranks in the top three in every career goalkeeping statistic in program history. She is the Austin Peay career leader in goals against average (1.14), save percentage (.809%), and shutouts (14); she also ranks third in victories (19) and second in saves (237).
