Blue Raiders face off with local rivals

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Blue Raiders open the 2008 home schedule as they square off under the lights against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Friday night followed by a match versus the Belmont Bruins on Sunday afternoon.

Middle Tennessee played to a 1-1 away draw last Saturday with the Jacksonville Gamecocks to open the season. The Blue Raiders went ahead on a Vanessa Mueggler goal in the 30th minute and looked to have increased their lead several times only to see their chances go wanting. They failed to maintain efficient possession in the second half and gave up the equalizing goal in the 61st minute.

This weekend's soccer schedule begins with a match up against Vanderbilt Commodores at 6:30 PM Friday.

Vanderbilt opened their season last weekend with a win against Sunday's opponent Belmont. They outshot the Bruins 41-6, but it took 103 minutes before the Commodores finally scored, off a deflected shot by Catherine Wern from three yards out. Wern won the Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week award for her efforts. The Commodores return seven starters and 17 players overall from last year's squad that went 6-10-3.

The action continues against the Belmont Bruins on Sunday at 1 PM.

Belmont began the season with a 2-1 win over Murray State last Friday before being edged by Vanderbilt two days later. Junior Annie Musacchio and freshman Sari Lin won the Atlantic Sun Conference Offensive and Defensive Player of the Weeks Awards for their performances in the two matches. The Bruins return 15 players, including seven starters, from a squad that finished with an impressive 13-6-3 record in 2007.

Friend of the Blue Raiders? Like us on Facebook and become part of the True Blue army today.