Soccer Hosts Pair of Matches

Friday, October 4

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4:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Arkansas-Little Rock

Photo by: MT

10/3/2002 1:18:00 PM | Women's Soccer

By: MT Media Relations

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee hosts Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas State this weekend in a pair of key Sun Belt Conference soccer matches at Blue Raider Soccer Field. Friday's match is set for 4 p.m., with Sunday's start at 1 p.m. The Blue Raiders come off a 9-1 victory at Stetson this past Sunday where sophomore Laura Miguez had three goals and sophomore Danielle LaDuke scored twice and had a pair of assists. Junior Christina Mascaro also handed out three assists in the win. The Blue Raiders lost their conference opener last weekend, a 3-0 decision at Florida International. Both Arkansas squads lost a pair of conference matches last weekend to North Texas and Denver. "We need to pick up where we left off at Stetson, finishing opportunities when we get them," Rhoden said. "That was the difference between FIU and Stetson. It's important in conference games to get on the board early and hold the lead. "The injury situation is a concern because it affects our rotation. Whatever happens this weekend we hope to not have anyone else hurt." Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series against UALR, 4-2, including a 5-2 win last year in Little Rock. LaDuke had the second of three straight hat tricks in that match. The Blue Raiders are 1-1 at home against the Trojans, but have never met UALR in a conference match in Murfreesboro. The Trojans bring a 4-6 mark into the weekend after dropping a 4-0 (Denver) and 6-3 (North Texas) decisions at home last weekend to begin SBC play. UALR has lost six straight after opening the year with four consecutive wins. Dee Dee Beyhan leads the squad with six goals and 15 points, and no other Trojan has double figures. The Blue Raiders lead the series with Arkansas State, 2-0, with a 5-1 win last year in Jonesboro. LaDuke tallied her third consecutive hat trick in that match. Middle Tennessee and ASU have never met in Murfreesboro. The Indians won their first two matches of the year but have since dropped eight straight, including 2-0 and 2-1 losses to North Texas and Denver, respectively, last weekend. ASU has just nine goals as a team for the season, with Jamey Spear leading the club in scoring with three goals and eight points. The two home matches mark of stretch where the Blue Raiders will play six of their last nine matches at home after only three of the first 11 were in Murfreesboro. Middle Tennessee has home matches on October 18, 20, 27 and 29, with three of those dates against conference foes.