Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, September 19
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
7:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
FIU
Women's Soccer Opens Conference USA Slate vs. FIU
9/18/2024 12:45:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee women's soccer team (3-5-0) is set to open its Conference USA slate on Thursday night, as the Blue Raiders welcome the FIU Panthers (5-3-0) for a prime-time matchup at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium.
History vs. FIU
MTSU is 17-6-1 all-time against FIU, with the previous meeting between the conference rivals coming on Oct. 27 of last season, resulting in a 2-0 win for the Blue Raiders. Middle Tennessee has won seven of the last eight meetings against the Panthers, dating back to the 2017 season.
About Middle Tennessee
The Blue Raiders enter Conference USA play at 3-5 on the season, looking to continue this most recent home stretch with a win against their first conference opponent.
Midfielder, and leading goalscorer, Manon Lebargy the current leader in Conference USA in points per game at 1.57 and tied for second in goals with five. Graduate Lauren Spaanstra is the conference leader in assists and assists per game at five and 0.63, respectively. Goalkeeper Demi Gronauer is the current leader in the save department for Conference USA with 35.
In their most recent outing against South Alabama on Sept. 12, Midfielder Risui Arasaki made her return to the starting XI for the Blue Raiders after coming off the bench in the previous four matches, in place of injured Lebargy. Arasaki featured in 70 of the 90 minutes today and got on the scoresheet in the 53rd minute with her third goal of the season, coming off an assist from Spaanstra.
Gronauer was forced into early action with a double save at the 7-minute mark with a pair of shots from South Alabama's Monique Gray and Juliana Lopes, keeping the score level at 0-0.
South Alabama took an early 1-0 lead in the ninth minute following an own goal by the Blue Raiders, coming off a set piece opportunity.
The Jaguars would double their advantage less than 10 minutes later in the 18th minute with a goal by Gray, her third of the season.
Gronauer came up with another massive save to keep the Blue Raiders within striking distance in the 32nd minute, maintaining the Jaguar lead at 2-0. South Alabama would continue to control that 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
MTSU came out of the intermission with a reinvigorated offense, as midfielder Hannah Murphy forced South Alabama goalkeeper McKenzie Hunninghake into her first action of the afternoon. Less than a minute later, the Blue Raiders pulled one back with Arasaki's goal, set up by Spaanstra.
Once again set up by Spaanstra off an ensuing corner, defender Sadie Sterbenz brought the home side level with a headed goal, her first of the season, in the 61st minute, evening the scoreline at two.
After facing an early 2-0 deficit, MTSU completed the comeback with a go-ahead goal from Idun Kvaale, with the assist going to Lexi Dendis, giving the Blue Raiders the lead in the final 10 minutes.
That lead would be short lived, however, as the Jaguars would come right back with a goal of their own in the 83rd minute of the match by leading goalscorer Irene Campo, once again leveling the score at three.
In heartbreaking fashion for the home side, South Alabama would reclaim the lead in the 89th minute of play, less than two minutes prior to the full-time whistle, with a goal by Lopes.
The full-time whistle would blow with the Jaguars completing their come from behind win on the road with a 4-3 result in Murfreesboro.
The seven-goal thriller would feature seven issued yellow cards, five to South Alabama and two to Middle Tennessee.
The Blue Raiders finished the 90 minutes with three goals on 15 total attempts, including six shots on target. Three different players got on the scoresheet in Arasaki, Sterbenz and Kvaale, with Spaanstra picking up a pair of assists, improving her season total to five, as well as Lexi Dendis setting up Kvaale's goal.
The Blue Raiders will look to start off conference play with a win over the Panthers, along with what would be their third home win of the season.
About FIU
The Panthers enter conference play this week with an overall record of 5-3 thus far in 2024. In previous results, FIU have produced wins over FGCU, Florida Atlantic, Jacksonville, Southeastern
Louisiana and SEMO. The Panthers three defeats have come against Oklahoma, Stetson and Miami (FL) as part of a season-opening six-match road stretch.
The Panthers are led by leading goalscorer Nikole Solis, who is current tied for second along with Lebargy, in that department. Her standout performance this season came in the 6-1 win over Southeastern Louisiana, recorded a brace, as well as an assist, in just 35 minutes of play.
Match Details:
Kickoff for MTSU vs. FIU is scheduled for 7 P.M. at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Women's Soccer on social media on Facebook, (BlueRaiderSoccer) X (MT_Soccer) and Instagram (mt_wsoccer).
History vs. FIU
MTSU is 17-6-1 all-time against FIU, with the previous meeting between the conference rivals coming on Oct. 27 of last season, resulting in a 2-0 win for the Blue Raiders. Middle Tennessee has won seven of the last eight meetings against the Panthers, dating back to the 2017 season.
About Middle Tennessee
The Blue Raiders enter Conference USA play at 3-5 on the season, looking to continue this most recent home stretch with a win against their first conference opponent.
Midfielder, and leading goalscorer, Manon Lebargy the current leader in Conference USA in points per game at 1.57 and tied for second in goals with five. Graduate Lauren Spaanstra is the conference leader in assists and assists per game at five and 0.63, respectively. Goalkeeper Demi Gronauer is the current leader in the save department for Conference USA with 35.
In their most recent outing against South Alabama on Sept. 12, Midfielder Risui Arasaki made her return to the starting XI for the Blue Raiders after coming off the bench in the previous four matches, in place of injured Lebargy. Arasaki featured in 70 of the 90 minutes today and got on the scoresheet in the 53rd minute with her third goal of the season, coming off an assist from Spaanstra.
Gronauer was forced into early action with a double save at the 7-minute mark with a pair of shots from South Alabama's Monique Gray and Juliana Lopes, keeping the score level at 0-0.
South Alabama took an early 1-0 lead in the ninth minute following an own goal by the Blue Raiders, coming off a set piece opportunity.
The Jaguars would double their advantage less than 10 minutes later in the 18th minute with a goal by Gray, her third of the season.
Gronauer came up with another massive save to keep the Blue Raiders within striking distance in the 32nd minute, maintaining the Jaguar lead at 2-0. South Alabama would continue to control that 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
MTSU came out of the intermission with a reinvigorated offense, as midfielder Hannah Murphy forced South Alabama goalkeeper McKenzie Hunninghake into her first action of the afternoon. Less than a minute later, the Blue Raiders pulled one back with Arasaki's goal, set up by Spaanstra.
Once again set up by Spaanstra off an ensuing corner, defender Sadie Sterbenz brought the home side level with a headed goal, her first of the season, in the 61st minute, evening the scoreline at two.
After facing an early 2-0 deficit, MTSU completed the comeback with a go-ahead goal from Idun Kvaale, with the assist going to Lexi Dendis, giving the Blue Raiders the lead in the final 10 minutes.
That lead would be short lived, however, as the Jaguars would come right back with a goal of their own in the 83rd minute of the match by leading goalscorer Irene Campo, once again leveling the score at three.
In heartbreaking fashion for the home side, South Alabama would reclaim the lead in the 89th minute of play, less than two minutes prior to the full-time whistle, with a goal by Lopes.
The full-time whistle would blow with the Jaguars completing their come from behind win on the road with a 4-3 result in Murfreesboro.
The seven-goal thriller would feature seven issued yellow cards, five to South Alabama and two to Middle Tennessee.
The Blue Raiders finished the 90 minutes with three goals on 15 total attempts, including six shots on target. Three different players got on the scoresheet in Arasaki, Sterbenz and Kvaale, with Spaanstra picking up a pair of assists, improving her season total to five, as well as Lexi Dendis setting up Kvaale's goal.
The Blue Raiders will look to start off conference play with a win over the Panthers, along with what would be their third home win of the season.
About FIU
The Panthers enter conference play this week with an overall record of 5-3 thus far in 2024. In previous results, FIU have produced wins over FGCU, Florida Atlantic, Jacksonville, Southeastern
Louisiana and SEMO. The Panthers three defeats have come against Oklahoma, Stetson and Miami (FL) as part of a season-opening six-match road stretch.
The Panthers are led by leading goalscorer Nikole Solis, who is current tied for second along with Lebargy, in that department. Her standout performance this season came in the 6-1 win over Southeastern Louisiana, recorded a brace, as well as an assist, in just 35 minutes of play.
Match Details:
Kickoff for MTSU vs. FIU is scheduled for 7 P.M. at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Women's Soccer on social media on Facebook, (BlueRaiderSoccer) X (MT_Soccer) and Instagram (mt_wsoccer).
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
D
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