Middle Tennessee soccer team looking to build momentum entering weekend matches

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee's soccer team will enter the weekend looking to regain the consistency that has made them one of the premier squads in the Sun Belt during the past two seasons. The Blue Raiders (5-3) will play host to Belmont (1-4) Friday at 3:30 p.m., at Blue Raider Field, before traveling to Alabama A&M Sunday afternoon in the final tune-up for the conference slate; and Middle Tennessee will be trying to bounce back from its worst loss in two-plus seasons - a 5-1 home setback against Memphis last Sunday. Most disappointing regarding the team's loss against the Tigers was the fact it came on the heels of a stirring 1-0 upset at Clemson two days earlier and left Head Coach Aston Rhoden concerned regarding the lack of consistency. "The scary thing is that we are so close to conference play and you can't have letdowns," Rhoden said. "Against Clemson we put together a full 90 minutes and felt very positive entering the Memphis match. I was thinking we had turned the corner with our consistency but then we didn't play well at all. Not to take anything away from Memphis, but I don't even think we gave them a game. We didn't challenge them and that is so unlike us." The Blue Raiders hope a solid week of practice has helped them iron out the kinks heading into the Belmont match. Middle Tennessee is 5-2 all-time against the Bruins and has registered back-to-back shutouts in the series. Several team members are nursing nagging injuries and junior captain Sara Wohlhueter will be out of action for the sixth straight contest; however, she should be the only player unable to take the field. "We do have several players who are not exactly 100 percent," Rhoden said. "We have gone from about 50 percent to 65 percent but this is when others have to step up and make an impact. We have to overcome these things." Junior forward Rebecca Rodriguez continues to rank among national leaders entering Friday's match. Rodriguez is tied for 10th nationally in points (22), tied for 12th in goals (8), and she is tied for 13th in assists (6). Rodriguez leads the Sun Belt in points and assists and she's second in goals scored.

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Players Mentioned

Rebecca Rodriguez

Sara Wohlhueter

Middle Tennessee State University Athletics