MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee soccer team (4-3-2, 1-0 C-USA) opened Conference USA play Friday night, taking down UAB (7-3, 0-1 C-USA) 2-0 for the team’s fourth-straight shutout victory and sixth on the season at Hayes Soccer Stadium.

Entering Friday’s contest, the Blazers sat atop the C-USA East Division with a league-leading 7-2 record in nonconference play. Both clubs battled in the opening period, but went to the locker rooms at the break with the match tied at 0-0.

The Blue Raiders came out firing in the second frame as reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week Tori Hawkins dribbled down the left side, striking the ball just outside the box. Her shot caught the top right corner of the net, giving MT a 1-0 lead during the 48th minute. The goal marked the sophomore’s third of the season and proved to be her second game-winner.

Despite having a 1-0 advantage, MT wouldn’t settle and kept striking, when Grace summers found Kate Loye just outside the top of the box in the 64th minute. Loye drilled the ball between the posts for MT’s insurance goal. The New Zealand sensation paces the Blue Raiders with five goals on the year.

 Kelsey Brouwer logged 90 minutes in goal for Middle Tennessee as she improved to 4-3-2 on the season, collecting her fifth shutout of the season and eighth of her career.

The sophomore keeper grabbed two saves during each period against the Blazers for four saves on the night. Brouwer’s UAB counterpart Courtnie Northern snagged three saves in the contest, recording 90 minutes in goal. Northern slipped to 2-2-0 on the year.

MT outshot UAB 13-9 on the night with five shots on goal compared to the Blazers’ four. The Blue Raiders also claimed the corner contest as MT had four corner kicks to UAB’s two. 

The Blue Raiders continue C-USA play Sunday, Sept. 29, hosting Colorado College at 1 p.m.

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