MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee dominated action throughout the entire match but was able to score just once, on a goal by redshirt junior Regina Thomas, to earn a 1-0 triumph over UALR in Sun Belt soccer action Sunday afternoon at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Thomas netted the game’s only goal at 69:58 despite the Blue Raiders holding a 26-to-1 shot advantage against the Trojans. Senior Luisa Moscoso one-touched a pass just inside the 18-yard box to Thomas, who then sprinted past her marking defender and fired a hard shot into the far left netting from the right side past UALR (5-8, 1-3 SBC) goalkeeper Michelle Pittman for the deciding tally.

Pittman kept her team in the contest with multiple key saves, finishing with nine stops in all. Thomas had a chance earlier in the first half, at 36:15, where she broke free down the left flank. Her attempt met a diving save by Pittman, pushing the ball wide and keeping the match scoreless.

Middle Tennessee (5-7, 2-2 SBC) also received a solid chance in the second half that Pittman was able to redirect high over the crossbar to set up a corner kick situation.

Freshman Melisa Erturk paced the Blue Raiders with six attempts, while Thomas, senior Shan Jones and junior Allison Stallard each finished with five shots in the aggressive offensive attack.

Senior Rebecca Cushing made her return to her familiar goalkeeping spot and did not register a save in the shutout. The blank sheet is the 14^th of her MT career, tying her with Kela Casiple (2007-08) for second in program history.

Middle Tennessee will continue its four-match homestand next weekend when it plays host to Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m. Friday and FIU at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

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