Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Alabama
Early deficit too much for Blue Raiders
9/12/2010 3:58:00 PM | Women's Soccer
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Two goals within the game's first 10 minutes by Alabama could not be overcome by the Middle Tennessee soccer team Sunday in a 3-0 loss to the Crimson Tide at Alabama Soccer Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Alabama (4-2) jumped out in front at 8:33 when Victoria Frederick knocked in a deflection off Blue Raider goalkeeper Rebecca Cushing while standing near the goal line. The threat was started by a shot from Rosaly Petriello, but Cushing could not handle the attempt, allowing Frederick to tap home the rebound.
Exactly one minute later, Ashley Willis sent a long through ball down the left flank to Brooke Rogers. Willis then beat Cushing to the far post for her third goal of the campaign at 9:33.
Despite the two-goal margin, Middle Tennessee (3-4) was able to battle back offensively and tie the shot totals at halftime, 6-6. The second half saw the Crimson Tide pull away in the category but only muster one more score.
Rogers capped the scoring at 83:59 when she netted her team-leading fourth goal after stealing the ball from a Blue Raider defender and placing it behind Cushing in a 1-on-1 situation to the near post.
Rogers led all players with five shots, while Petriello added four to the Alabama attack that finished with a 20-12 edge on shots.
Junior All-Sun Belt honoree Shan Jones paced Middle Tennessee with three shots, while senior All-Sun Belt selection Vanessa Mueggler, sophomore Paige Goeglein and freshman Jessika Oseguera each registered a pair.
The Blue Raiders will return to action at 2 p.m. Central Friday when they open action in the Duke Nike Classic against No. 1 North Carolina in Durham, N.C. It will be the first meeting in program history with the Tar Heels and the third of four straight away from Murfreesboro for Middle Tennessee.
