NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Host Vanderbilt scored a goal in the final five minutes, while Middle Tennessee was denied twice to fall 1-0 Friday night at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex in Nashville, Tenn.

Paige Goeglein had the first Blue Raider shot on the evening, firing a 30-yarder high over the crossbar with just over five-and-a-half minutes to play in the opening half.

Earlier in the period, on the Commodores’ first attempt, Allison Stallard cleared a Bridget Lohmuller shot at 11:14 off the end line to keep the scoreboard empty. Vanderbilt (5-1) would later add two other shots during the half but neither team was able to find the back of the net as the opening 45 minutes ended scoreless.

Middle Tennessee (1-5) had a pair of solid scoring chances within the opening six minutes of the second half. Luisa Moscoso placed the ball near the right post, only to be saved by Brittanie Barbero, while Jessika Oseguera sent a free kick from 25 yards away just past the upper right corner at 50:12.

Regina Thomas did her best to give the Blue Raiders a marker on the board, as she ran in stride onto a through ball and one-touched to Barbero at the 69:19 mark. Oseguera sent another shot to the same spot as her previous attempt, from the left side this time.

Moscoso again had a solid chance to put Middle Tennessee on top and her shot found an empty area between the pipes at 78:08; however, the potential goal was waved off due to an offside infraction against the Blue Raiders, keeping the game deadlocked at 0-0.

Another apparent MT goal was denied at 84:41 when Oseguera’s corner kick swung into the goal mouth. Barbero saved the shot and was pushed towards the goal line, giving the Blue Raiders the impression of a score.

The Middle Tennessee on-field players began to celebrate, but the goal was not counted due to a Blue Raider foul inside the box. The Commodores quickly regrouped and sent a long through ball past the midfield.

Abby Carr fed the ball to Candace West, who one-stepped her way around a Middle Tennessee defender, and sent her shot just past a leaping Rebecca Cushing at 85:32 to decide the final margin.

Oseguera and Moscoso paced the Blue Raiders with two shots apiece, while Cushing finished with a save.

West topped Vanderbilt with two attempts, while Barbero was credited with two saves in the shutout.

Middle Tennessee will return to action at 2 p.m. Sunday when it plays host to Alabama A&M at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium on International Day.

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