MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee soccer team (6-7-4, 3-4-2 C-USA) closed out its 2013 home slate Sunday afternoon, shutting out FIU (7-10-0, 5-4-0 C-USA) 1-0 in a crucial Conference USA contest as tournament berths are on the line, heading into the final week of league play.

Both teams had some solid looks in the opening frame of play as FIU fired off eight shots, while MT recorded nine. Goalkeeper Vanessa Plasencia collected four saves for the Panthers in the first period, but it was the Blue Raiders’ fifth shot on goal that proved to be too tricky to corral.

With just two minutes left until halftime, Grace Summers gave MT a 1-0 advantage, netting her fifth goal of the season. The score came after a Middle Tennessee corner kick taken by Miranda Caballero.

Caballero found Angie Lai inside the box. However, Lai’s shot found the hand of a diving Plasencia, batting the ball away for an FIU save. Fortunately for the Blue Raiders, the ball bounced right back to Summers, who then netted what proved to be her second game-winning goal of the 2013 campaign.   

Middle Tennessee made a defensive stand in the second period, preserving its 1-0 lead. FIU only had three shots in the second half with just one on goal. Kelsey Brouwer collected three saves on the day for the Blue Raiders, logging 90 minutes in goal. Her counterpart Plasencia managed to snag five saves.

The Blue Raider offense had a few solid looks in the second period, but just wasn’t able to connect as MT had five shots in the final 45 minutes with one on goal.

MT outshot FIU 14-11 on the day with six shots on goal, compared to FIU’s three. Middle Tennessee also dominated the corner kick contest 11-3.   

The Blue Raiders close out the 2013 regular season Thursday, Oct. 31, traveling to East Carolina for a 6 p.m. C-USA contest. MT will have to lay it all out on the line against the Pirates as a bid to the C-USA Tournament hangs in the balance. 

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