University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Middle Tennessee
Soccer Battles Hard, But Falls at Middle Tennessee
9/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Despite a late surge of offensive attacks, the Southern Miss women's soccer team dropped its Conference USA opener against Middle Tennessee, falling 1-0 on an early goal. The Golden Eagles are now 2-5-3 overall and 0-1-0 in the conference.
The Blue Raiders got on the scoreboard early in the 14th minute. Grace Summers scored her second goal of the season when she netted a shot from outside the box. Summers was assisted by Tori Hawkins.
Karen Torres and Becky McMullan each put a shot on goal in the first half, but Middle Tennessee keeper Kelsey Brouwer was there to make the saves. Stephanie Garcia also got a shot off in the half that went wide of the goal.
Junior goalkeeper Brittany Taylor made five saves in the first half.
Southern Miss started the second half strong, pressuring the Blue Raiders and pushing up the field. Determined to even the score, S. Garcia and Kierstin Bradly each got a shot off in just the first four minutes of the half. Both were off-frame.
The Golden Eagles relentlessly attacked the Blue Raider defense, earning six corners and six shots in the final 45 minutes. McMullan added two more shots on goal while Breann Hedin had one. The team's last shot at the end of the match, coming from Mary Kate Smith, was high.
The Blue Raiders were on their heels throughout the second half, but were able to hold on to their 1-0 lead. They earned just two shots after halftime, forcing Taylor to make a save.
Taylor, who had six total saves in the 90 minutes of play, continues to climb the record books for Southern Miss. She now has 242 saves, just three behind the number two spot, and 35 behind the number one spot, for all-time career saves.
Up next, the Golden Eagles take on Old Dominion at the Southern Miss Soccer Complex on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1:00 p.m.
