Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Sunday, September 20
Jackson, Miss.
1 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
7-2-2, 0-0-0
1
at
4
Jackson State
3-6-0, 0-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tenn. | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jackson St. | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Women’s Soccer achieves best non-conference record in program history despite falling to Jackson State, 4-1
9/20/2026 6:27:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Women's Soccer achieves best non-conference record in program history despite falling to Jackson State, 4-1
By: Maxson Hernandez-Trujillo
JACKSON, Miss. – Despite suffering a 4-1 defeat to the Jackson State Tigers on Sunday, Middle Tennessee Women's Soccer will approach conference play next week in program-best shape, posting its highest-ever winning percentage (.727) through its 11 non-conference matches.
The Blue Raiders fell to 7-2-2 on the season, while JSU improves to 3-6 before it begins SWAC play next week.
''This one game doesn't define what we've done so far,'' MTSU head coach Aston Rhoden said. ''It's about taking the lessons from this game and putting them into next weekend.''
The majority of the first half was an even bout between the two sides, with MTSU outshooting JSU 9-6 through 40 minutes.
However, India Wilson scored her first goal of the season with a long-range effort to steal the lead going into halftime.
The Tigers came out of the halftime break riding their momentum, as goal-scoring leader Ryanne Hawthorn-Harper converted a penalty kick to double the advantage just three minutes after the break.
MTSU responded with three shots on target between Hannah Murphy, Megan Carroll and Saachi Bureau, but JSU goalkeeper Taylor Osborn was there to keep her team ahead.
2-0 became 3-0 just before the hour mark when Malayah Nuestro scored her first goal of the season on a low-driven free kick to improve the Tigers' advantage.
Ania Denham responded right away, scoring her third free kick of the season a minute later for her team-leading seventh goal to reduce the deficit to 3-1. The strike also marked her fourth consecutive goal in as many contests, becoming the first Blue Raider to achieve the feat since Peyton DePriest hit the mark against Houston Baptist (Sept. 5, 2021), ETSU (Sept. 10, 2021), Vanderbilt (Sept. 12, 2021), and FIU (Sept. 16, 2021) consecutively.
Jackson State's Mia Ortega scored her third goal of the season three minutes later, in what would be the final goal of the contest.
Middle Tennessee outshot Jackson State 24-15 on the afternoon, including 15-8 in the second half. The Blue Raiders also rattled off 16 shots on target, marking the highest tally in either shot category since Sept. 29, 2023, when MTSU took 25 shots with 20 on frame in an 8-0 drubbing of Chicago State.
Individually, Murphy's seven shots mark a single-game career-high, as well as Carroll's four. Mya Stenehjem tied her career-best shot tally with three, while improving her best shot-on-target number to two. Payton Pitman chipped in with two shots on target, a new best for her.
Up Next
Middle Tennessee will begin Conference USA play with a trip to Jax State on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. The Blue and White will then return to Dean A. Hayes Soccer Stadium for their conference home opener on Oct. 1 as they play host to Liberty, the 2025 CUSA Women's Soccer Tournament champions.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Stay up to date with Middle Tennessee Soccer on Instagram (@mt_wsoccer), X (@MT_Soccer) and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Soccer).
By: Maxson Hernandez-Trujillo
JACKSON, Miss. – Despite suffering a 4-1 defeat to the Jackson State Tigers on Sunday, Middle Tennessee Women's Soccer will approach conference play next week in program-best shape, posting its highest-ever winning percentage (.727) through its 11 non-conference matches.
The Blue Raiders fell to 7-2-2 on the season, while JSU improves to 3-6 before it begins SWAC play next week.
''This one game doesn't define what we've done so far,'' MTSU head coach Aston Rhoden said. ''It's about taking the lessons from this game and putting them into next weekend.''
The majority of the first half was an even bout between the two sides, with MTSU outshooting JSU 9-6 through 40 minutes.
However, India Wilson scored her first goal of the season with a long-range effort to steal the lead going into halftime.
The Tigers came out of the halftime break riding their momentum, as goal-scoring leader Ryanne Hawthorn-Harper converted a penalty kick to double the advantage just three minutes after the break.
MTSU responded with three shots on target between Hannah Murphy, Megan Carroll and Saachi Bureau, but JSU goalkeeper Taylor Osborn was there to keep her team ahead.
2-0 became 3-0 just before the hour mark when Malayah Nuestro scored her first goal of the season on a low-driven free kick to improve the Tigers' advantage.
Ania Denham responded right away, scoring her third free kick of the season a minute later for her team-leading seventh goal to reduce the deficit to 3-1. The strike also marked her fourth consecutive goal in as many contests, becoming the first Blue Raider to achieve the feat since Peyton DePriest hit the mark against Houston Baptist (Sept. 5, 2021), ETSU (Sept. 10, 2021), Vanderbilt (Sept. 12, 2021), and FIU (Sept. 16, 2021) consecutively.
Ania's third free kick goal of the season 👏 pic.twitter.com/ahjSmw9rql
— Middle Tennessee Soccer (@MT_Soccer) September 20, 2026
Jackson State's Mia Ortega scored her third goal of the season three minutes later, in what would be the final goal of the contest.
Middle Tennessee outshot Jackson State 24-15 on the afternoon, including 15-8 in the second half. The Blue Raiders also rattled off 16 shots on target, marking the highest tally in either shot category since Sept. 29, 2023, when MTSU took 25 shots with 20 on frame in an 8-0 drubbing of Chicago State.
Individually, Murphy's seven shots mark a single-game career-high, as well as Carroll's four. Mya Stenehjem tied her career-best shot tally with three, while improving her best shot-on-target number to two. Payton Pitman chipped in with two shots on target, a new best for her.
Up Next
Middle Tennessee will begin Conference USA play with a trip to Jax State on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. The Blue and White will then return to Dean A. Hayes Soccer Stadium for their conference home opener on Oct. 1 as they play host to Liberty, the 2025 CUSA Women's Soccer Tournament champions.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Stay up to date with Middle Tennessee Soccer on Instagram (@mt_wsoccer), X (@MT_Soccer) and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Soccer).
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's SoccerTeam Stats
MTSU
JSU
Goals
1
4
Shots
24
15
Shots on Goal
16
5
Saves
1
13
Corners
4
2
Fouls
8
22
Scoring Plays
India Wilson (1)
Assisted By: Ryanne Hawthorn-Harper
GOAL by JSU Wilson, India Assist by Hawthorn-Harper, Ryanne.
42:25
Ryanne Hawthorn-Harper (4)
JSU Ryanne Hawthorn-Harper PENALTY KICK GOAL.
47:56
Malayah Nuestro (1)
GOAL by JSU Nuestro, Malayah.
59:17
Ania Denham (6)
MTSU Ania Denham PENALTY KICK GOAL.
60:08
Mia Ortega (3)
GOAL by JSU Ortega, Mia.
64:42
Game Leaders
fwd
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
7
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
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