The Middle Tennessee soccer team improved to 6-6-2 overall and 3-2-1 in conference play after two victories over the weekend, earning wins in a matchup Friday against Florida-Atlantic (6-6-3), and Florida-International (6-6-1) on Sunday afternoon.
MT faced FAU in a rain-soaked match, picking up a tough 1-0 victory over the Owls.
It proved to be a slow and physical game due in part to the conditions on the field, as both teams entered the half at a scoreless draw.
With 11 minutes remaining in the game, junior Brianna Jasnek assisted freshman Peyton McCollum, who scored her first career goal, giving the Blue Raiders a late 1-0 advantage. Jasnek’s assist was the first of the season and third of her career.
FAU cranked up the intensity in the final two minutes, attempting four corner kicks in two minutes. Despite their valiant effort, the Blue Raiders maintained its lead and closed out the contest.
Junior goalkeeper Kelsey Brouwer collected four saves in her fourth shutout of the season.
“(Friday) we worked really hard and showed a lot of character and a lot of grit,” Head Coach Aston Rhoden said. “We stuck it out despite some adversity with injuries. It was a good feeling to come together as a team.”
“I think the wet field slowed us down a little bit because we are a passing team but I think it also slowed FAU down because they play very similar,” Rhoden said. “In the end I think we just really wanted to win this game and we were able to pull through.”
Middle Tennessee turned its attention to FIU Sunday afternoon, and notched its second win this weekend in a 2-0 victory over the Golden Panthers.
In the 27th minute, junior Grace Summers assisted McCollum for her second goal of the weekend, giving MT an early 1-0 lead over FIU.
Junior Tori Hawkins assisted senior Kelsie Roberts who scored her second goal of the season, giving the Blue Raiders a 2-0 lead before the halftime break. MT would continue to play solid defense, holding FIU scoreless for the rest of the game.
Brouwer, who is proving to have a great season, compiled six saves for the game and picked up her fifth shutout of the season.
“FIU is a very good team, they’ve always been a good team,” Rhoden said. “We knew coming in that it was going to be a tough game. I think the difference maker (Sunday) was that we took advantage of the opportunities we were given.”
The Blue Raiders are 4-0 in their last four games and produced its 20th-consecutive winning season at home (4-3-1) following its weekend sweep.
MT will be on the road to take on rival Western Kentucky on October 17, and will look to continue its four-game winning streak.
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To contact sports editor Connor Grott, email [email protected]
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