Soccer team braces for weekend showdown against Denver, North Texas

Friday, October 28

Blue Raider Field

3:30 PM

Middle Tennessee

Denver

10/27/2005 8:24:00 PM | Women's Soccer

By: MT Media Relations

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The 2005 Sun Belt Conference regular-season championship is on the line this weekend as Middle Tennessee's soccer team concludes the regular-season portion of its schedule with two pivotal home matches this weekend against perennial league powers Denver and North Texas. The Blue Raiders (10-4-2, 4-1-2) bring a five-match unbeaten streak into their contest against Denver (7-7-2, 4-2-1) Friday at 3:30 p.m., at Blue Raider Field. The regular season concludes on Sunday during "Senior Day" festivities against North Texas (12-2-2, 7-0-0). First touch is 1 p.m., with "Senior Day" activities beginning at 12:45. The four Blue Raiders playing their final regular-season matches this weekend are Rachel Holmes, Danielle Perreault, Claire Ward, and Melissa Wellman. Middle Tennessee must win both of its matches and have Western Kentucky beat North Texas on Friday to defend its 2004 regular-season championship. "Sure, a regular-season championship would be great and that's what we are aiming for going into the weekend," Ward said. "We have overcome our slow start in conference play and put ourselves in position to make this a big weekend and that's what I'm most proud of with this team. We have a young squad overall and it would have been easy to get down and stay down but we didn't do that. "We have to have a little help but in the big scheme of things what matters most is that we take care of our business and continue playing well heading into the conference tournament next week. Winning the conference tournament is what is going to get us where we want to go, but it would be nice to get a little help from Western Kentucky and do our part at home. We can only control what we do, though." Middle Tennessee has been on a roll since starting league play 0-1-2. The Blue Raiders have not lost a match in five contests and they have steamrolled the opposition 18-4 during those matches. While the offense has been outstanding, Middle Tennessee continues to be one of the top defensive teams in the league. "I'm pleased with how we are playing and how things have come together," Middle Tennessee coach Aston Rhoden said. "I believe our team is playing with a lot of confidence right now but, more importantly, they are playing as a unit and they are reaping the rewards on the field. Our fans have been outstanding this season and we are hoping for two big crowds this weekend to give us a homefield advantage against two very skilled, well-coached soccer programs in Denver and North Texas." The Sun Belt Conference Championships begin next Wednesday in Mobile, Ala. First-round match-ups and times will be announced Sunday evening.