Blue Raiders open 2021 season against the Belmont Bruins Thursday

Friday, August 20

Murfreesboro, TN

7:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Belmont

Photo by: Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

8/18/2021 4:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Match Notes

By: Jonathan Caudle, MT Athletic Communications

MIDDLE TENNESSEE vs. Belmont
Thursday, Aug. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Dean A Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium
Watch Live | C-USA TV
Live Stats | Statbroadcast.com

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Soccer opens its 2021 season on Thursday against Belmont at 7:30 p.m. at the Dean A Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium. The game will be streamed through C-USA TV.

The Blue Raiders are coming off a COVID-altered season that saw the team finish 3-3 against only C-USA opponents. All-C-USA First Team selection Peyton DePriest and All-South Region Third Team selection Sam DeBien return to the Blue Raiders for their fifth season in 2021. DePriest enters this year's campaign as the current NCAA D-I active career leader in goals scored with 46 over her four-year career. She also currently holds the program record in goals scored and sits just two away from breaking the C-USA record and becoming the all-time leading scorer in conference history. Last season, DePriest tied for a team-leading four goals last season, including three game-winners. The team also returns sophomore Ashley Shimberg, who tied for a team-leading four goals and eight points last season, as well as sophomore Eleanor Gough who tallied a team-high three assists through the Blue Raiders six contests during spring 2021. The Blue Raiders 2021 roster includes 17 returners and features 13 newcomers.

Series History
Thursday's contest will be the first time since the 2018 season that the Blue Raiders will face the Bruins and the 17^th contest between the two programs. The Blue Raiders hold the all-time series lead over Belmont 9-6-1. Middle Tennessee won 5-3 at Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium during the last matchup between the two programs. The Bruins are coming off a season where they went 5-4-1 overall and in Ohio Valley Conference play.

Last Time Out
The Blue Raiders secured a 1-1 draw in the team's last contest against the Austin Peay Governors. The back-and-forth battle eventually cumulated into an 85^th minute goal from the Govs, before an Austin Peay penalty in the 18-yard box led to a DePriest PK that would eventually seal the Blue Raiders exhibition tie to close out the team's 2021 preseason play.

Up Next
Middle Tennessee Soccer continues its season-opening weekend on Sunday as the Blue Raiders host the Samford Bulldogs for a 4 p.m. matchup inside Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium.