Blue Raiders snap losing skid in weather-shortened outing

September 11, 2011

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee scored five times and lightning delayed action three occasions Sunday afternoon in a 5-0 Blue Raider soccer victory over visiting Alabama A&M at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium. The game was called with 13:47 remaining following the third sign of lightning on the afternoon after it became official at just over six minutes before with 20 minutes left in regulation.

Middle Tennessee (2-5) wasted no time in getting its scoring started against the out-matched Bulldogs, who were outshot 20-0 on the afternoon. Juniors Allison Stallard and Whitney Jorgenson connected on the first goal at 1:17 when Stallard played a through ball from the back line to Jorgenson, who one-touched it onto the underside of the crossbar and over the head of goalkeeper Linda Aboagye.

Following a 30-minute delay due to lightning just over five minutes into the start, the Blue Raiders went back to work and added another score at 19:11 when sophomore Jessika Oseguera intercepted a clearing attempt and tucked the ball into the near post following a corner kick.

The match was delayed again five minutes later for lightning. Once the teams returned to the field, redshirt junior Regina Thomas needed barely four minutes to find the back of the net for her first score at 28:18. She knocked home a deflection off a defender from eight yards out to put the Blue Raiders ahead, 3-0. It appeared she may have been offside on the play, but action continued at the referee’s discretion and she capitalized on the opportunity.

Thomas added her second goal before the half concluded, at 37:38, when Oseguera sent a through ball to the right side. Thomas then chipped the ball over Aboagye’s head, helping Middle Tennessee build a 4-0 cushion at halftime.

The Blue Raiders were able to tack on another score early in the second half to decide the final margin. Freshman Kelsie Roberts sent a cross from the right side to the far post, where senior Luisa Moscoso tapped it in for her first goal of the campaign at 47:11.

Middle Tennessee continued to push offensively throughout the match, keeping Alabama A&M (0-6) under pressure defensively. The Blue Raiders held a 10-0 advantage on corner kicks and were whistled 14 times for offsides.

The win snaps the Blue Raiders’ four-match losing streak. Middle Tennessee will return to action when it plays host to Tennessee Tech at 7 p.m. Friday at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium. The only game of the weekend will also be Fan Day for all Blue Raider supporters.

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