MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – A late goal by Middle Tennessee spoiled the season debut for the Jacksonville State soccer team on Friday night with a 1-0 setback on Friday night at MTSU's Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium.
MTSU's Haley Nishimoto's header in the 83
rd minute proved to be the difference in the contest after both clubs played to a scoreless draw until Nishimoto was able to break through on one of the Blue Raider's 19 total shots. She collected the game-winning goal after Kerri Cook and Abbie Brown set her up with a cross.
Even though MTSU finished with 19 total shots, only six of those were on goal scoring chances. Jax State junior goalkeeper
Caroline Robinson turned in five saves. The Gamecocks were limited on offense throughout the contest as they tallied five total shots, led by junior
Kayla Thompson and freshman
Danielle Monroe's pair of shot attempts. Sophomore Maddison Carruthers along with Thompson had on goal scoring chances.
With nine new faces in the program, fourth year head coach
Neil Macdonald didn't hesitate to give three members of the freshmen class their first start in their collegiate debut.
Rachel Blanding (Snellville, Ga.),
Adrianna Karpa (East St. Paul, Manitoba, Canada) and
Emma Meadows (Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada) were penciled in the starting lineup against the Blue Raiders. Blanding and Meadows saw 30 or more minutes of action, while Karpa played a full time match.
MTSU's Salera Jordan registered a match-high four shots, while Nishimoto came off the bench to provide two shots, including the game winner.
JSU looks to bounce back on Sunday, August 21 with its home debut against the Eagles of Georgia Southern. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at the JSU Soccer Field and admission is free to all home matches. The Eagles opened the season with a 3-0 loss to UNC Wilmington.
For more information on the JSU soccer team, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter (@JSUSoccer). For more on all Gamecocks sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of JSU Athletics on Twitter (@JSUGamecocks), Facebook (Facebook.com/JSUGamecocks), Instagram (@JSUGamecocks) and Snapchat (@JSUGamecocks).
