Soccer team looks to continue winning ways

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee soccer team will be looking to continue its winning ways when it hits the road for two pivotal Sun Belt Conference matches this weekend. The Blue Raiders (8-4-2, 2-1-2) play at Arkansas-Little Rock (2-13-1, 1-6-0) Friday at 4 p.m., and conclude the road portion of the regular-season slate at Arkansas State (5-10-1, 2-4-1) Sunday afternoon. "It's a big weekend for our team because we want to continue building momentum heading into the conference tournament," said senior midfielder Claire Ward. "We are coming off two big wins and we are playing well right now so we want to keep that going." Middle Tennessee has an eight-match winning streak against Arkansas-Little Rock, and is 6-0 all-time against Arkansas State; however, both of those teams have played well at home this season and the Indians are coming off an upset of Denver on the road last weekend. "Nothing is ever easy on the road and we know we have to continue playing well to have a chance to be successful this weekend," coach Aston Rhoden said. "We are playing better as a team and that's the biggest difference right now. We are playing our best right now and this is the time you want to be doing that." Middle Tennessee is coming off two key wins against Florida International and Louisiana-Lafayette, and if Denver wins at North Texas this weekend, then the Blue Raiders control their destiny as far as defending its regular-season league championship. The Blue Raider defense has been a strong suit all season and the squad allowed only 10 shots in two matches last weekend, surrendering just one goal on a penalty kick. That aspect will have to continue this weekend in Arkansas. Meanwhile, the Middle Tennessee offense seemed to regain its punch with seven goals in two matches last weekend after scoring just four goals in its first three matches combined.

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Players Mentioned

Claire Ward

Middle Tennessee State University Athletics