Langrish Gets Hat Trick in 5-2 Victory

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee freshman Lisa Langrish scored three first-half goals, as the Blue Raider soccer team defeated Belmont, 5-2, Sunday during Senior Day activities at the Blue Raider Soccer Field.

Langrish scored exactly two minutes into the match on a header. Freshman Megan Schwanke took a free kick and crossed the ball deep into the 18-yard box, and Langrish found the corner of the goal for her fifth score of the season.

MT (8-7) went up 2-0 in the 28th minute when Lindsey Bopp took a corner kick and again Langrish headed the ball into the back of the net. Langrish's final tally of the day came in the 34th minute after a scramble in front of the net. The Dorset, England, native redirected the bouncing ball past the Belmont goalie for Middle Tennessee's fourth hat trick of the season. Fellow freshman Danielle LaDuke has the other three hat tricks this season.

The Blue Raiders held a 4-0 halftime advantage after Jenny Cox scored in the 42nd minute after a long pass from defender Nicki Fell. Cox dribbled past Belmont keeper Mikell Lucus and found the back of the net for the third time this year.

Belmont (5-11) got on the board in the 79th minute after a flurry of shots against MT senior goalie Jessica Busey. Busey saved two close-range shots before Brittney Kelly beat her, cutting the BU deficit to 4-1. Belmont's Hayley Alden made it 4-2 with a long scoring shot in the 89th minute.

But MT's Emily Carter scored with just eight seconds remaining in the match on an assist from Jessica Northcutt for the final score of the match.

Four seniors were honored prior to Sunday's contest: goalie Jessica Busey, defender Megan Holsten, and midfielders Tiffany Moore and Rachael Sulkers. The four have led the Middle Tennessee program to the most wins of any previous graduating class, posting now 36 victories during their four seasons after Sunday's win.

MT hosts Georgia State at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the final home match of the season for the Blue Raiders.

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