MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Senior Regina Thomas notched a pair of goals and freshman Kelsey Brouwer recorded a shutout as Middle Tennessee defeated Belmont 3-0 on Sunday afternoon at Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium.

The Blue Raiders (5-2-0) outmanned the Bruins (4-3-0) 21-5 in the shot column en route to their best start since the 2009 season.

“Anytime you play an in-state rival like Belmont, which is a good team, it’s always good to get a win,” said head coach Aston Rhoden. “Especially, since we are a young team that is slowly learning on what we want them to execute.”

Regina Thomas moved into the top-10 for career goals, notching her 21^st and 22^nd goals on Sunday. Brouwer (3-1-0), a native of Franklin, picked up her second shutout this season, recording a save in 90 minutes of action.

Thomas, a native of Centennial, Colo., gave the Blue Raiders the first goal at the 23^rd minute when she broke away from Belmont defenders and scored from an Amalie Anderdal cross.

A solid defensive effort by Middle Tennessee limited the Bruins to just one shot in the first half, as MT’s potent offense fired away nine against the BU goalkeeper.

In the second half, Thomas struck again netting her fourth goal this season. The forward fired away a rapid shot and put the ball in net after a Belmont deflection.

Belmont had four shot opportunities in the second half with one on goal. The near equalizer was set off by the midfielder Cassie Blase in a breakaway opportunity.

MT sealed the win at the 64^th minute when Whitney Jorgenson booted her fourth goal this season. Anderdal managed her second assist when she sent a cross into the left box to Jorgenson.

BU goalkeeper Kelsey Nichole Berner surrendered three goals and notched six saves as she dropped to 4-3 on the season.

Middle Tennessee has now notched 26 goals in the first seven contests, which ranks among the best in the Sun Belt.

“We have 13 new players,” noted Rhoden. “A lot of those players are on the attacking side of things. Now, they are figuring things out a bit better. We are fortunate that our returning players are spread out at different parts of the team. I think having that senior leadership in each of those areas has been helpful for us.”

Middle Tennessee closes out the non-conference slate next Sunday at in-state foe Memphis. Kickoff is scheduled for 1pm at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.

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