Murray State
Tennessee-Martin
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MSU Soccer Has 3-0 OVC Start With 2-1 Win Over UTM
10/5/2008 5:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
The Murray State Women's Soccer team moved their record in the Ohio Valley Conference to 3-0 Sunday with a 2-1 win at home over UT Martin at Cutchin Field.
The Racers' 3-0 start in OVC play marks their best since the program was launched in 2000.
“I was very proud of the professionalism and discipline of our team,” MSU Head Coach Beth Acreman said. “It was a competitive game and the girls responded in excellent fashion.”
MSU's home win had to be a come-from-behind effort after UT Martin scored only 6:25 into the contest.
The Racers dug in on defense and started to create plenty of scoring chances.
Freshman Rachel Wright scored to tie the game in the 34th minute when Katie Wilson set her up with a crossing pass only 15 yards from the goal on the right side.
The Racers grabbed the lead for good in the 40th minute on another Wright goal. Nicole Evans gathered a loose ball on MSU's side of the field and sent a long pass down the sideline, which Wright was able to control and beat the UTM defender. Wright's blast from 25 yards out went into the upper left corner of the goal.
The second half was a battle of defense with no goals scored.
Tara Isbell made four saves, including one high leaping grab of a close UTM shot with 16:44 left.
MSU's 2-1 win kept them in solo first place in the OVC after three matches, but Acreman knows the conference race is still young.
“We've got a long way to go and there are still a lot of games to play,” Acreman said. “But I was very proud of the character our team showed today.”
“It was another outstanding team effort and team win,” Acreman added. “It's nice to see your team pull together and get a positive result.”
GAME NOTES
Rachel Wright's two-goal performance is the fourth time this season a Racer player has done it, and the second time for Wright. Renata Figueira scored two against Louisiana-Monroe (Sep. 14), Wright did it against UNC Asheville (Sep. 5), and Sophie Hargreaves scored a pair against
The Racers are 4-3-1 this season at Cutchin Field.
MSU is unbeaten in five straight games dating back to their last loss on Sep. 12 against
MSU's minutes without a goal ended at 269:25 when UTM scored 6:25 into the game.
Wright leads the Racers with six goals.
MSU's 3-0 start is the first in program history dating back to the first season in 2000.
The Racers' next contest is at home Friday, Oct. 10 at Cutchin Field when they host
