MTSU Sidelines

Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jay Bailey Following weekend wins over Troy and South Alabama, MT has won five in a row and six of its last seven games.

Middle Tennessee scored two goals in each half and used suffocating defensive pressure to shut down the opposition as they extended their unbeaten start in the Sun Belt to four matches with a 4-0 shutout over the South Alabama Jaguars at Blue Raider Field Sunday afternoon.

The Blue Raiders were coming off a solid 2-0 victory over the Troy Trojans on Friday evening. Shan Jones and Vanessa Mueggler were on hand for a pair of second-half strikes as the home side outshot the Trojans 26-9, including holding a 14-4 advantage at the break.

South Alabama began conference play with two wins against Arkansas State and Arkansas-Little Rock last weekend, before falling 3-0 to Western Kentucky in Bowling Green, Ky. Friday night.

MT came out firing on all cylinders as they forced the Jaguars back with several attacking waves after the opening kickoff. Freshman Jones almost gave the home side the advantage in the 11th minute, but shot just wide of the far post after finding herself all alone with Jaguar goalkeeper Kelsie Langford.

Forward Jen Threlkeld started things off for the Blue Raiders in the 25th minute. Mueggler served in a good in-swinging corner that found the junior at the back post. Threlkeld rose high in the air above two defenders to nod home her first goal of the season.

The goal scorer turned provider just five minutes later to double the MT advantage. The Carrollton, Texas native nailed a ball over the top of the Jaguar backline from well inside the Blue Raider half and into the path of Jones.

The speedy freshman took three touches and calmly finished to the far post for her team-leading eighth goal of the season. The Welsh forward has scored seven goals in MT's last nine matches.

"Our objective in the first half was denying the opposition early services, and we did a good job," Blue Raider Head Coach Aston Rhoden said. "We need to make sure we impose our style of play early in the match. We did just that, and it led to two good goals."

Mueggler made it 3-0 in favor of the home side in the 80th minute. Substitute Kim Farrant tracked down a ball on the far side and beat Jaguar defender Kasey Crowe to the end line before cutting back and delivering a perfect pass to Mueggler, who slotted home from seven yards.

Continued...

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