LaDuke Gets Goal, Assist in Blue Raider Victory

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Middle Tennessee sophomore Danielle LaDuke scored a goal and added an assist in a 2-0 victory over Alabama A&M Friday afternoon at Blue Raider Soccer Field.

LaDuke gave the Blue Raiders an early lead with her second goal of the season just 1:05 into the match. Emily Carter played a ball forward to LaDuke, who beat one player and fired it into the back of the net.

LaDuke then flicked a ball to Christina Mascaro in the 21st minute, and Mascaro fired a one-timer into the net for a 2-0 Middle Tennessee advantage.

The Blue Raiders continued to shoot for the rest of the half and the match, taking 17 shots in each half and forcing two Alabama A&M keepers to make 18 saves. Megan McGregor hit the crossbar midway through the second half for Middle Tennessee, who ended a four match winless streak.

Alabama A&M's Jerry Twala made 11 saves in the first half before teammate Jennifer Slaton came on with seven saves after the break. Middle Tennessee's Emily Shrum got the win in goal, making one save.

"The biggest positive is we won. We definitely needed to win this game," Middle Tennessee head coach Aston Rhoden said. "We didn't play to our potential, but we still came away with the victory."

Middle Tennessee plays at Murray State on Sunday at 1 p.m. and opens conference action next weekend with a match at Florida International. The Blue Raiders do not return home until an October 4 date versus Arkansas-Little Rock at 4 p.m.