Raiders Drop Heartbreaker to Belmont

Friday, August 18

Nashville, Tenn.

6:30 PM

Middle Tennessee

0-1-0

Belmont

1-0-0

Middle Tennessee

Belmont

Photo by: Brent Beerends

8/18/2017 10:25:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In the first match of the 2017 season the Middle Tennessee soccer team fell to Belmont in a tough physical matchup. The Bruins went down a man early following a red card but were able to come back from a goal down, twice, to defeat MT.

"[The red card] gave us a player up, but credit to Belmont they played with a player down and still worked hard and fought the entire game," said Head Coach Aston Rhoden. "I think it was an opportunity that was lost for us and we need to take better advantage of being a player up and we didn't do that tonight."

The Raiders started the game with Elizabeth Watts taking two early chances but it was not until the 17^th minute that MT was able to strike.

Belmont went down a man as the Bruin goalkeeper, Lily Herman, collided with Peyton DePriest and received a red card. Charlotte Van Ishoven took the ensuing free kick for MT. The Bruin defensive wall blocked her initial shot but she followed it up with a bullet strike that ended up in the back of the net giving Middle the 1-0 lead.

Just four minutes later, Belmont evened the game. Chalcraft blocked the initial shot with her chest but Emily Whitcomb followed it up with a header into the side netting to make it 1-1.

Van Ishoven had four other shots in the half before Peyton DePriest was able to give the Raiders the 2-1 lead just before halftime.

DePriest received a pass from Carolin Engelhard up the middle in the 41^st minute. She then dribbled up the field and beat the keeper for her first collegiate and career goal.

"Peyton had a good solid game," Rhoden said. "She does what we know she is capable of doing. It was good to see her get the goal the way she did because she worked hard for it and actually had a lot of composure in front of the goal to finish the ball."

Belmont equalized again early in the second half as Julie Garst used her speed to connect on a long pass.

With under five minutes to play and a tie game both sides were pressing for a game winner. Belmont found it in the 86^th minute on a header off a corner kick by Jessi Boozer.

"We had sparks tonight, but those sparks were not long enough," Rhoden said. "We have just got to play well in longer periods. I think we did some really good things tonight but it was a little bit inconsistent. Playing teams like Belmont and Ausin Peay, you can't have lapses like we did tonight and expect to get results."

The Raiders return to the pitch for their home opener at the Dean A. Hayes Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. for a match with in-state rival Austin Peay.