The Blue Raiders (4-2) rebounded from their 2-0 loss against No. 25-ranked Vanderbilt Friday, and used a combination of stupendous defense and timely goals to deal Evansville (4-2)its first home loss in three matches at Black Beauty Field.

"This was a tough match and one we really had to work for against a good team," Middle Tennessee coach Aston Rhoden said. "I was really pleased with how the team rebounded from the loss to Vanderbilt because they took that really hard. They came out today and played hard and played well enough for us to win a tough match on the road."

Middle Tennessee was playing without two full-time starters as senior keeper Danielle Perreault, who has been solid defending the goal, was scratched from the lineup with a back injury and captain Sara Wohlhueter missed her fourth straight contest with an ankle injury.

Freshman Courtney Fortner made her first career starter in Perreault's absence and played well against an Evansville team that had scored multiple goals in four of its first five matches.

The match was scoreless until Rayburn struck for her first goal of the season in the 55th minute. Rayburn, who played a sterling all-around match, slipped through the Purple Aces defense on a free kick from Rodriguez and powered a header into the open net from 2 yards out to give the Blue Raiders a 1-0 lead.

Evansville evened the score in the 71st minute when Kayla Lambert stole a clearing attempt by Fortner and lined a shot from 21 yards out for her fourth goal of the season, but the Blue Raiders wouldn't take long to answer the game-tying goal.

Grogan's third goal of the season proved to be the game winner just two minutes later when she took a nice feed from Rodriguez on the right side of the penalty area and drove the ball off the keeper and into the back of the net for the score. Rodriguez now has four assists on the season to go with her eight goals.

The Blue Raiders return to action when they travel to play Clemson Friday at 6 p.m.

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