Blue Raiders Drop Season Opener vs. Belmont

Sunday, August 18

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Belmont

1-1-0, 0-0-0

Belmont

Middle Tenn.

8/18/2024 11:44:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Zach Brown, MTSU Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee women's soccer team kicked (0-1-0) off its 2024 campaign tonight against the Belmont Bruins (1-1) in a 2-1 loss at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium, snapping a four-match unbeaten streak against the in-state rival.

Belmont's Abbigail Legg opened with the game's first scoring opportunity in the sixth minute, which forced Blue Raider goalkeeper Demi Gronauer into making the first save of her collegiate career. Middle Tennessee's Risui Arasaki created the home side's first opportunity of the game with a shot to the bottom corner that was saved by Belmont goalkeeper Amanda Waggoner.

Following another 12 minutes of play, in the 21st minute, resulting from build-up play from Arasaki and Manon Lebargy, Middle Tennesse junior forward Emma Pettersen opened the Blue Raiders' scoring account for the 2024 season with the sixth goal of her career, giving MTSU a 1-0 advantage.

Gronauer was forced into a pair of saves down the stretch of the first half, one in the 27th minute and another in the 30th minute, while Waggoner kept the Bruins from going down 2-0 in the 28th minute off an attempt from junior forward Taijah Fraser.

The Blue Raiders would go into the halftime break still controlling a 1-0 lead.

Norwegian forward Idun Kvaale created the first scoring chance of the second half, which forced Waggoner into another bottom corner save in the 51st minute.

Belmont equalized nearly 15 minutes into the second half with a goal by Reagan Ross in the 60th minute, with the assist coming from Leah Firsdon.

Arasaki and Fraser each added another shot on goal for the Blue Raiders in the 63rd and 67th minutes, respectively, giving Waggoner her fourth and fifth saves of the night.

Belmont would later claim the lead in the 68th minute with a goal by Kaitlyn Elliott and an assist from Olivia Walker.

The season opener would conclude with a yellow card for the Bruins' Kennedy Wise, the Bruins lone goalscorer in their season opener vs. Lindenwood, in the 87th minute and an off-target attempt from Arasaki off an ensuing corner.

Middle Tennessee finished the 90 minutes with the goal from Pettersen, on 17 total shots, with six on frame. Gronauer capped off her first career outing with three saves. Fraser and Arasaki each recorded a pair of attempts on goal, with Kvaale and Petterson each adding one.

Next up for the Blue Raiders is a trip to Lafayette, La. as they are set to take on the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns on Thursday, Aug 22 at 7 P.M. CT at the Home Bank Soccer and Track Complex.

Follow the Blue Raiders 
Follow Middle Tennessee Women's Soccer on social media on Facebook, (BlueRaiderSoccer) X (MT_Soccer) and Instagram (mt_wsoccer). 