Blue Raiders clinch C-USA Tournament berth with 2-0 shutout against UTEP

Friday, October 15

Murfreesboro, TN

7:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

8-5-1, 4-2-0

UTEP

3-10-0, 1-5-0

UTEP

Middle Tenn.

10/15/2021 11:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Jonathan Caudle, MT Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Soccer (8-5-1, 4-2 C-USA) earned its third-straight C-USA win in impressive fashion, shutting out the UTEP Miners (3-10, 1-5 C-USA), 2-0, to clinch a berth into 2021 C-USA Tournament on Friday evening at Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium.

With their win over the UTEP Miners, your Blue Raiders have CLINCHED their spot into the C-USA Tournament!#BlueRaiders | #MT pic.twitter.com/NgbzyrsM83
— MT Soccer (@MT_Soccer) October 16, 2021

Senior Peyton DePriest and freshman Kirstine Lykke led the Blue Raiders with a goal apiece in the win. DePriest tallied three shots, while Lykke notched two shots in the contest. Both netted their sole shots on goal. Senior Sam DeBien led the Blue Raiders with four shots and tallied the Blue Raider assist in the win.

The Blue Raiders started the game strong, taking control early on and never really letting up. Through the first 35 minutes of play, the Blue Raiders outshot the Miners 8-2 controlling the ball for most of the opening frame.

DePriest did DePriest things in the 38^th minute, as she received a ball from DeBien, driving it into the left corner of the 18-yard box before she powered it past the incoming Miners keeper to break the stalemate and give the Blue Raiders a 1-0 advantage.

Write it down! Goal No. 10 on the season and career No. 56 for the one and only, @PeyDepriest! 😎 pic.twitter.com/OxpdJccZ9G
— MT Soccer (@MT_Soccer) October 16, 2021

Nearing the halftime break, the match looked like Middle Tennessee Soccer would take its one-goal advantage into the locker room, but Lykke battled with a Miner defender before drawing a foul in the penalty box in the 45^th minute to earn a penalty kick attempt for the Blue Raiders. The Miners keeper attempted the save, but Lykke's kick had too much pace as it squeezed past the hands of the keeper to give Middle Tennessee a two-goal advantage heading into the halftime break, 2-0.

Kirstine Lykke scored her first career penalty kick to send us into halftime with a two-goal advantage!#BlueRaiders | #MT pic.twitter.com/WuSkKncsq7
— MT Soccer (@MT_Soccer) October 16, 2021

Fresh out of the locker room, the Miners secured an opportunity in the 48^th minute as the Blue Raiders fouled a Miner attacker in their 18-yard box to allow a Miner penalty kick attempt. UTEP tried to power the penalty shot into the bottom left of the net, but the ball was met by diving Suder to deny the UTEP penalty attempt to keep the Blue Raiders lead at two, 2-0.

SUDER DENIES! Suder saves the Miner penalty kick in the 47th minute to maintain the Blue Raiders two-goal advantage!#BlueRaiders | #MT pic.twitter.com/DR9mCFhMNF
— MT Soccer (@MT_Soccer) October 16, 2021

The Blue Raiders continued to pressure the Miners, outscoring UTEP 6-5 over the final 40 minutes of play as Middle Tennessee's stout defense earned its third shutout of the season and sealed the 2-0 win.

Up Next
Middle Tennessee Soccer remains home on Sunday as the Blue Raiders host the UAB Blazers on Sunday for a 5 p.m. kickoff at Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium.

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