Blue Raiders beat buzzer for 1-0 win at ULM

MONROE, La. - Middle Tennessee's soccer team avoided what would have been a school-record tying fifth overtime match this season but barely and by the slimmest of margins in a 1-0 win at Louisiana-Monroe Sunday.

Sophomore Jen Threlkeld's team-leading eighth goal of the season on an assist from Holly Grogan just beat the final buzzer as the Blue Raiders escaped with the tough weekend road sweep and remained unbeaten in their last five matches (4-0-1) to remain in the Sun Belt championship hunt.

"It was a very tough match and Louisiana-Monroe played great and we were just fortunate to get a break there at the end," Middle Tennessee coach Aston Rhoden said. "This was a pivotal win for us in the conference race because nothing is settled as far as the eight teams that make the postseason conference tournament so this was a big weekend for us."

Middle Tennessee (8-5-3, 5-2-1) continued it solid defense and freshman keeper Kela Casiple lowered her goals-against-average to 0.56 with her fifth shutout. The five shutouts are tied for fifth on the single-season list and just two shy of the single-season record. She had eight saves against Louisiana-Monroe (6-10-1, 2-5-1) and each one of them proved to be crucial in a game where there was no margin for error.

Grogan supplied her seventh assist of the season and 25th for her career when she found Threlkeld for the game-winner. Threlkeld equaled her goals total from all of last season with eight.

Middle Tennessee will look to continue its momentum when it plays host to Denver and North Texas next Friday and Sunday, respectively. It is the final home weekend of the season.

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