Blue Raiders Post 4-1 Win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Middle Tennessee soccer team scored twice in the first half and added two more goals late in the second half to post a 4-1 victory over Lipscomb Tuesday night.

The Blue Raiders (1-2) played almost the entire first half on their offensive end of the field, outshooting LU, 13-1, in the opening 45 minutes. Emily Carter had the best shot in the first 15 minutes, hitting a left-footer that Lipscomb keeper Jennifer Brittingham saved.

But the Blue Raiders continued applying pressure early and often, and it paid off in the 17th minute when Christina Mascaro crossed into the box and Sarah Linder found the back of the net for the first goal of the season for Middle Tennessee.

Little more than a minute-and-a-half later, Laura Miguez crossed a hard, low ball to the back post that Emily Carter directed into the net for a 2-0 Blue Raider advantage.

Middle Tennessee controlled the ball the opening 10 minutes of the second half, but Lipscomb penetrated the Blue Raider defense in the 58th minute and cut the deficit in half. Kelley Wade got the score for the Lady Bisons (1-1), redirecting a bouncing ball in the six-yard box and a 2-1 Middle Tennessee lead.

But the Blue Raiders rebounded and took control of the match again 15 minutes later, as Jenny Cox fed Megan McGregor across the field and McGregor sailed a high shot from 30 yards into the back of the net for a 3-1 Blue Raider lead.

Freshman Brooke Ward tallied the final score for Middle Tennessee in the 84th minute. Cox took a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that was blocked. Ward pounced on it and fired it into the net for the 4-1 final score.

The Blue Raiders picked up their first win of the season and outshot the homestanding Lady Bisons, 26-5, in the match. But head coach Aston Rhoden knows his team must continue to improve and finish scoring opportunities.

"We played better and moved the ball around a lot more," Rhoden said. "We created many scoring opportunities, but we have to get better production from our forwards. Three midfielders and one defender scored for us tonight, and we need our forwards to be able to finish their chances, because they are getting them."

Senior Sheri Robbins had her 61-game match starting streak snapped when she did not play due to a high ankle sprain.

The Blue Raiders open the home slate Friday with a 4 p.m. match against Southern Miss at the Blue Raider Soccer Field. Middle Tennessee also takes on Drury at 1 p.m. Sunday at home.

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