CHARLOTTE - The North Texas soccer team advanced to the Conference USA title game for the second straight year with a 1-0 victory against Middle Tennessee on Friday night at Transamerica Field.

The Mean Green will face Rice in the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m., central time. North Texas and the Owls recorded a 1-1 tie in their regular-season meeting.

The Mean Green's victory was very similar to its quarterfinal game against Marshall. North Texas scored an early goal off a header served up from a corner kick in the 13th minute against Middle Tennessee. NT scored both its goals verus Marshall off corner kicks, including the first one in the 15th minute off a header.

Karla Pineda served up a short corner to the near post, where Jackie Moreau flicked it back to the far post. Marchelle Davis was waiting, and headed the ball into the goal for her fifth tally of the season.

North Texas spent the majority of the first half in the Blue Raider's defensive third, drawing six corner kicks. Middle Tennessee's offense began connecting in the second period; the Blue Raiders outshot North Texas, 8-6. Jackie Kerestine made five saves for the Mean Green, including three in the second half.

Kerestine recorded her 14th shutout of the season. She has not allowed a goal in seven straight conference tournament games.

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