Denham and Navetta power Women's Soccer past Tennessee Tech, 2-0

Sunday, September 13

Cookeville, Tenn.

5 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

7-1-2, 0-0-0

Tennessee Tech

3-4-2, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Middle Tenn.	1	1	2
Tennessee Tech	0	0	0

Box Score (PDF)

Women's Soccer vs. Tennessee Tech Recap Header

9/13/2026 9:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Maxson Hernandez-Trujillo, MTSU Athletic Communications

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Powerful strikes in each half from Ania Denham and Valentina Navetta proved the difference as Middle Tennessee defeated Tennessee Tech on Sunday night, 2-0.

Denham continues to lead the way for MTSU as she added a sixth goal to her account in 2026, and a fifth game-winner that puts her back on top for game-winning goals nationwide. Navetta scored her first career goal, with Saachi Bureau delivering her second assist in three matches.

Now sitting at 7-1-2, the Blue and White have achieved their highest non-conference win total in program history and have won three straight games for the first time since Nov. 2, 2025, when they defeated FIU (1-0) after taking down UTEP (Oct. 19, 4-0) and Kennesaw St. (Oct. 25, 1-0) consecutively. Denham's three-match scoring streak is the first for an MTSU player since Manon Lebargy against Jacksonville State (Oct. 3, 2024), Kennesaw St. (Oct. 6, 2024) and Western Kentucky (Oct. 13, 2024).

''I am really happy with the way we played tonight,'' MTSU head coach Aston Rhoden said. ''We started a bit slow but were able to play to impose our identity on the game and eventually secure a big road win and keep a clean sheet in the process.''

Just as she did in Middle Tennessee's previous two contests, Ania Denham was first to find the answer with her strike just 15 minutes into the first half. Luiza Junior dos Santos floated in a cross that bounced off a defender before falling perfectly for the freshman who blasted her shot on the volley into the corner for her team-leading sixth strike of the season.

Now with six total goals in 2026, Denham leads all of CUSA and ranks tied-for-fourth in the nation among all freshmen. With 13 total points from six goals and one assist, she leads CUSA and ranks seventh among all freshmen nationwide.

Ania with an absolute rocket to give us the lead 🚀 pic.twitter.com/B5pp2fijWP
— Middle Tennessee Soccer (@MT_Soccer) September 13, 2026

Five minutes later, MTSU threatened to double the lead after Hannah Murphy sent Hailey Phillips through on goal with only Tech goalkeeper Drew Tolley to beat. Phillips' shot forced a top-class save from Tolley as she parried the ball just wide of the net, settling for an MTSU corner kick.

In the second half, Phillips tested Tolley again just three minutes in after Denham sent her a ball out wide that she shot from the side angle of the net.

Holding onto a 1-0 lead, Middle Tennessee entered the water break standing strong, having not allowed a shot from Tennessee Tech in the second half.

In the 73rd minute, Bureau took the ball from out wide and dribbled inside before laying it off to Navetta. The Dallas, Texas, native tried her luck with no hesitation, perfectly angling her shot to hit the crossbar and fall right into the net for her first career goal.

You're insane, Val 🤯 pic.twitter.com/iMEzL6ZiQG
— Middle Tennessee Soccer (@MT_Soccer) September 13, 2026

Freshmen Hailey Crabb and Liza Miller both logged their first starts, 90-minute outings, and clean sheet performances, with the forward Miller deputizing at right back.

Junior dos Santos logged a season-high three shots, while Murphy took five shots, a season-high and the most for her since she took as many against Jackson State on Aug. 17, 2025. Phillips tied her career-high tallies of four shots and three on target that she set last time out against Evansville.

In net, Ella Sellers made one save in her fourth start and third clean sheet of the season as she is yet to concede in the 357 minutes she has played. Her third individual shutout of the season is tied for second in CUSA for total shutouts.

As a team, the Blue Raiders outshot the Golden Eagles 17-6 and held them to zero shots in the first half. The seventh shutout of the season for Middle Tennessee ranks tied for second in the nation, only behind Saint Mary's (CA) with eight.

Up Next
Middle Tennessee will continue its three-match road trip after a full week off with Jackson State at 12 p.m on Sept. 20. MTSU will then begin Conference USA play at Jax State on Sept. 27 at 1 p.m.

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