SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Middle Tennessee Women’s Soccer ended its match against Missouri State with a 1-1 draw on Sunday, earning one point in the conference standings. This result brings the Blue Raiders' record to 8-3-4 (1-1-2 CUSA), placing them fifth in Conference USA, while the Bears are now 3-7-3 (0-2-2 CUSA) and sit ninth after four conference games.
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MTSU head coach Aston Rhoden commented on the game, saying, "We showed great resilience in coming back from being a goal down. Despite getting a point, I'm disappointed we did not secure all three. We must now recover for a tough road trip to Delaware."
Missouri State started strong, attempting four shots within the first 20 minutes. However, it was Middle Tennessee's Alli Craig who almost scored in the 22nd minute but narrowly missed the target after a cross from Hailey Phillips.
The Bears broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when Ariya Barton set up Marleigh Allen, who finished with a one-time shot for her second goal of the season. Just four minutes later, the Blue Raiders responded with a free kick taken by Hannah Murphy, whose cross found fellow captain Megan Carroll. Carroll equalized with a goal just before halftime, marking her third goal of the season and second consecutive game with a score, a personal first.
Murphy's assist was her second of the season, raising her points total to 12 and placing her seventh in the conference standings.
The second half saw both teams manage only three shots each, creating a tense atmosphere. In the final minutes, Ania Denham’s header went wide, while goalkeeper Ella Sellers made two crucial saves to secure the draw.
Next, Middle Tennessee will travel to Delaware to face the Blue Hens on October 18 at 11 a.m. CT before returning home to play against New Mexico State on October 22 at 7 p.m.