Blue Raiders set for road exhibition matchup against Tennessee Tech

Thursday, August 12

Cookeville, TN

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Tennessee Tech (Ex.)

8/12/2021 10:46:00 AM | Women's Soccer

By: Jonathan Caudle, MT Athletic Communications

MURFREESBRO, Tenn. – In preparation for the 2021 campaign, Middle Tennessee soccer heads up north to Cookeville for an exhibition matchup against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Tech Soccer Field.

The Blue and White returns 19 members from the 2021-21 team, including All-South Region Third Team selection Sam DeBien and the Blue Raiders all-time leading goal scorer and All-C-USA First Team selection Peyton DePriest. DePriest has permanently etched her name into the Blue Raiders' record books, but she currently sits two goals away from becoming Conference USA's all-time leading scorer over the conference's 27-year history. Last season, the Blue Raiders finished the season 3-3 and fifth in the C-USA East. 10 freshmen and three newcomers join the Blue Raiders for the 2021-22 season, including two new goalkeepers in Talia Nowlan and Jordan Imes.

Middle Tennessee returns nine of its 11 starters and 91 percent of the team's goal production from a season ago. Peyton DePriest and Ashley Shimberg led the Blue Raiders offensively last season, scoring four goals apiece. Eleanor Gough also played a pivotal role for Middle Tennessee last season, dishing out a team-high three assists and netting a goal. In goal, the Blue Raiders return starting goalkeeper Hannah Suder, who collected 98 percent of team's minutes and all 14 of the Blue Raiders' saves from the spring campaign.

The Golden Eagles finished their 2020-21 campaign with a 4-5-1 mark and tied for sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tech returns all 11 of its starters and 100 percent of the goal production from a season ago.

Following Thursday's contest, the Blue Raiders will conclude their preseason play in Clarksville as they take on the Austin Peay Governors on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Morgan Bros. Soccer Field. Middle Tennessee Soccer officially opens the 2021 campaign on Aug. 19, hosting the Belmont Bruins at Dean A Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.