Blue Raiders Take Hard-Fought 2-1 Win

MURRAY, Ky. -- Middle Tennessee senior Sheri Robbins scored the game-winner in the 71st minute on a free kick and the Blue Raiders held on for a 2-1 victory over Murray State Sunday afternoon.

With the score tied 1-1 at the half, the Blue Raiders came out and attacked from the opening kickoff. Robbins floated a free kick from about 35 yards that sailed over the head of Murray keeper Karen Fitzharris for the game-winner. The score was the first for Robbins, a defender, since October 15, 2000, against Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Blue Raiders controlled the ball for much of the first half on a soft, slow Cutchin Field surface, and had a couple of scoring chances early in the match. Danielle LaDuke fed Laura Miguez in the box, but the shot was saved by Fitzharris.

Miguez also had another good shot later in the half that was also saved, but the Blue Raiders finally put one in the net midway through the half. Sarah Linder took a corner kick that was fed back out to her, and Linder crossed the ball far-post, where Emily Carter headed it into the net for a 1-0 Blue Raider lead in the 18th minute.

The Racers tied the score late in the half when Abbie Perez placed a corner kick in the box and Brooke Royer headed it in to knot the contest in the 42nd minute.

The Blue Raiders next play at Florida International on Friday in the conference opener for both teams. Middle Tennessee returns home October 4 versus Arkansas-Little Rock.

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