Jorgenson leads Blue Raiders to road conference win

JONESBORO, Ark. - Middle Tennessee sophomore Whitney Jorgenson netted two goals within the opening seven minutes of the second half, lifting the Blue Raider soccer team to a 2-0 road Sun Belt victory at Arkansas State Friday afternoon in Jonesboro, Ark.

Neither team was able to capitalize in the first half, as the Red Wolves held a slim 4-3 edge on shots. However, when the sides were switched at the intermission, Middle Tennessee (5-7, 2-1 SBC) used it to its favor and poured in the only scores.

Jorgenson's first goal came at 47:32, as she entered the attacking zone from the right side after receiving a long through pass from Vanessa Mueggler and buried the ball into the open net behind Arkansas State (4-6-1, 0-3 SBC) starting goalkeeper Susan Brown.

The Olathe, Kan., native then added her second score, also on a Mueggler assist, at 51:56 when she came in from the opposite side and placed the ball at the far post to beat the defense and goalie, and giving MT the insurance goal.

Jorgenson's second tally sent Brown to the bench, and the backup keeper Megan Stoltzfus entered to play the final 38:04 in net. Her two goals are her first in her career in Sun Belt play and increase her season total to four, one shy of her career-high five from last fall.

Jorgenson finished with five shots, four on goal, to lead all players, as the Blue Raiders outshot the hosts 8-3 in the second period to finish with a four-shot advantage.

Junior Rebecca Cushing played all 90 minutes in the cage for Middle Tennessee, registering six saves in earning her second shutout of the campaign.

The Blue Raiders will stay in Arkansas to face UALR at 1 p.m. Sunday in their next match.

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