Preseason Camp Continues, Blue & White Scrimmage Saturday

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee soccer team continued preseason workouts under second-year head coach Aston Rhoden, scrimmaging more over the last two days than normal in order to give new players a better feel for the system and acclimate them to the college game.

"We have worked more in game-type situations than on fitness in these first three days," Rhoden said. "So many of our young players have a good chance of player vital roles for us this year, and we need for them to be comfortable with our system and with their teammates."

Rhoden also said the squad is further along than at this point last year in their training.

"We are further along with the way we play, our camaraderie and with our work ethic. We just have to work on having a better understanding of each other and how each player likes to play.

"We have been focusing on the little things that make such a big difference in the game, even more so than the fundamentals, and collectively it is helping get everyone on the same page.

The Blue Raiders will run Friday morning and have the midday practice before hosting a middle school tournament the rest of the afternoon and all day Saturday. The squad will face off in the Blue & White Scrimmage at 1:15 p.m. Saturday during a break in the tourney.

Rhoden and the Blue Raiders play an exhibition match versus Louisville on August 23 in Huntsville, Ala., before opening the regular season at home against Belmont on August 31.

MIDDLE SCHOOL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday, August 15

4:30 p.m.               Warren County vs. Blackman

5:10 p.m.               Central vs. Baird

5:55 p.m.               Harris vs. OLPH (Chattanooga)

6:45 p.m.               Tullahoma vs. Franklin County

Saturday, August 16

8 a.m.                    Warren County vs. Harris

8:50 a.m.               Central vs. Tullahoma

9:40 a.m.               OLPH vs. Blackman

10:30 a.m.             Franklin County vs. Baird

11:20 a.m.             OLPH vs. Baird

12:10 p.m.             Franklin County vs. Central

1:15 p.m.                BLUE & WHITE SCRIMMAGE

3 p.m.                   Harris vs. Blackman

3:50 p.m.              Tullahoma vs. Baird

5 p.m.                   Championship Game

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MTAthletics for continued updates.