Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Thursday, August 13
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
7 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
1-0-0, 0-0-0
2
vs
0
Troy
0-1-0, 0-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troy | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Middle Tenn. | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Two second-half Set Pieces lift Women's Soccer past Troy in Season Opener, 2-0
8/14/2026 1:02:00 AM | Women's Soccer
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A two-hour rain delay could not overshadow Middle Tennessee's set piece brilliance as the Blue Raiders defeated Troy 2-0 at Dean A. Hayes Soccer Stadium on Thursday night.
Substitute Ania Denham's pinpoint free kick on the stroke of the hour proved the difference before 2026 co-captain Hannah Murphy's penalty kick sealed the opening night victory in the 79th minute for the Blue and White.
MTSU has now won back-to-back season openers for the first time since 2016, and now holds a positive 11-10-4 record in season-opening contests under head coach Aston Rhoden.
"Any time you can win with a shutout is a good thing," Rhoden said. "It was good to see us come back and impose our identity more in the second half and get two goals out of it."
After unpredictable weather delayed the season opener's kickoff, the Blue Raiders came out of the gate swinging as freshman Payton Pitman's header glanced just wide of the post following transfer Saachi Bureau's cross just 10 minutes in.
On the other end of the pitch, Braelyn Carey found herself through on goal before transfer Bryn Forchic made a goal-saving tackle in front of the net.
Following a quiet rest of the first half, MTSU again came out of the break on the front foot as Hailey Phillips's long ball found Denham, forcing one of five saves from Troy goalkeeper Taylor Richards.
The Blue Raiders kept Richards busy until the 60th minute, when Denham unleashed a curling free kick off the left post and into the net, giving the Welsh international her first collegiate goal.
The Trojans ramped up the pressure after falling behind, threatening to equalize in the closing stages of the match before transfer Hailey Phillips picked off a defender at midfield and drew a foul in the Troy penalty area.
Co-captain senior Murphy then converted her first career penalty kick in the 79th minute, sending Richards the wrong way to secure the victory for the Blue Raiders.
Goalkeeper Demi Gronauer only had one save to make on a relatively quiet night, aided by sophomore Scottie Newton and the Blue and White's new-look back line.
MTSU took 16 shots, including 12 in the second half, marking the most shots in a half since Oct. 12, 2025, when the Blue Raiders took 14 shots in the second half of a 2-1 win at FIU.
Up Next
Following the season-opening victory, Middle Tennessee will embark on a three-match road trip, beginning in Evansville, Ind., against Southern Indiana on Sunday, Aug. 16, at 1 p.m., before facing in-state foe UT Martin on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. MTSU will conclude its travels with a lunchtime kickoff at West Georgia on Sunday, Aug. 23.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Stay up to date with MTSU Soccer on Instagram (@mt_wsoccer), X (@MT_Soccer), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Soccer).
Substitute Ania Denham's pinpoint free kick on the stroke of the hour proved the difference before 2026 co-captain Hannah Murphy's penalty kick sealed the opening night victory in the 79th minute for the Blue and White.
MTSU has now won back-to-back season openers for the first time since 2016, and now holds a positive 11-10-4 record in season-opening contests under head coach Aston Rhoden.
"Any time you can win with a shutout is a good thing," Rhoden said. "It was good to see us come back and impose our identity more in the second half and get two goals out of it."
After unpredictable weather delayed the season opener's kickoff, the Blue Raiders came out of the gate swinging as freshman Payton Pitman's header glanced just wide of the post following transfer Saachi Bureau's cross just 10 minutes in.
On the other end of the pitch, Braelyn Carey found herself through on goal before transfer Bryn Forchic made a goal-saving tackle in front of the net.
Following a quiet rest of the first half, MTSU again came out of the break on the front foot as Hailey Phillips's long ball found Denham, forcing one of five saves from Troy goalkeeper Taylor Richards.
The Blue Raiders kept Richards busy until the 60th minute, when Denham unleashed a curling free kick off the left post and into the net, giving the Welsh international her first collegiate goal.
The Trojans ramped up the pressure after falling behind, threatening to equalize in the closing stages of the match before transfer Hailey Phillips picked off a defender at midfield and drew a foul in the Troy penalty area.
Co-captain senior Murphy then converted her first career penalty kick in the 79th minute, sending Richards the wrong way to secure the victory for the Blue Raiders.
Goalkeeper Demi Gronauer only had one save to make on a relatively quiet night, aided by sophomore Scottie Newton and the Blue and White's new-look back line.
MTSU took 16 shots, including 12 in the second half, marking the most shots in a half since Oct. 12, 2025, when the Blue Raiders took 14 shots in the second half of a 2-1 win at FIU.
Up Next
Following the season-opening victory, Middle Tennessee will embark on a three-match road trip, beginning in Evansville, Ind., against Southern Indiana on Sunday, Aug. 16, at 1 p.m., before facing in-state foe UT Martin on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. MTSU will conclude its travels with a lunchtime kickoff at West Georgia on Sunday, Aug. 23.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Stay up to date with MTSU Soccer on Instagram (@mt_wsoccer), X (@MT_Soccer), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Soccer).
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerTeam Stats
TROY
MTSU
Goals
0
2
Shots
4
16
Shots on Goal
1
7
Saves
5
1
Corners
5
4
Fouls
14
9
Scoring Plays
Ania Denham (1)
GOAL by MTSU Denham, Ania.
59:43
Hannah Murphy
MTSU Hannah Murphy PENALTY KICK GOAL.
78:33
Game Leaders
fwd
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Thursday, August 13
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