MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The final two home matches of the season are next on the docket for the Middle Tennessee soccer team as it nears the end of the campaign. The Blue Raiders will play host to North Texas at 7 p.m. Friday and Denver at 1 p.m. Sunday in the final matches at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium for seniors Sarah Beth Lee, Erynn Murray and Jen Threlkeld.
"We are truly appreciative of all the efforts that our three seniors have put in over four years," head coach Aston Rhoden said. "They certainly have helped this program evolve into what it is today, and we hope that with the end of the season fast approaching, they are able to leave behind a legacy that is their own and hopefully claim something that is a first for Blue Raider soccer."
Senior festivities will be held prior to Friday's match against North Texas. All three players will be recognized for their on and off the field achievements with the Blue Raiders.
Lee was tabbed the 2009 Sun Belt Female Sporting Behavior Award recipient. She has scored two goals in her career, including one this season Oct. 4 at South Alabama. Her score proved to be the game winner as MT earned a 3-2 victory.
Murray will finish her career as one of the most prolific goalkeepers in program history, ranking in the top five for wins, goals-against average, saves and shutouts. Her 12 victories as a freshman rank second on the school's single-season list.
Threlkeld has been a scoring machine throughout her career with the Blue Raiders, tallying 29 goals entering the weekend, including seven this fall. The 29 scores currently place her fourth in school history, while she also is among the program's all-time best in points and assists.
Middle Tennessee enters the weekend with a 12-3-1 record for the second-best start in school history through 16 matches. The Blue Raiders are 6-2 in Sun Belt action and currently sit in a fourth place tie with Denver in the conference standings.
"These two games are very important. Because we are near the end of the conference season, we face a very strong North Texas team. We certainly expect them to be a very strong team and a very strong challenge for us.
"Denver has a tradition in the league that is unparalleled to anyone else's. Both games are going to be very strong, but I think we are in a good place and very confident. We are not necessarily playing our best soccer yet, but I think we are playing very well. Hopefully, we can continue the performances from last weekend and see if we can use them to get a positive result this weekend."
North Texas enters the game with a 7-0-1 league mark. The Mean Green is on top of the league standings, as the only unbeaten team in conference action.
Denver matches the Blue Raiders' 6-2 SBC ledger and the pair trail North Texas, Western Kentucky and FIU as the league race winds down.
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