Box Score MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - - Belmont University women's soccer dropped a 1-0 decision at Middle Tennessee Friday night.
After the match was pushed to Friday due to thunderstorms and heavy rains Thursday night, the Bruins finally opened regular season play after an 1-0-1 exhibition season.
In the 18th minute, Cambell Kivisto gave Middle Tennessee the early lead on a well-struck shot from the right edge of the box.
Later in the first half, Belmont got a lift from defender Loren House who closed a Blue Raider attack and initiated a counterattack to teammate Erin Patterson. Later, House denied a Blue Raider scoring chance with a successful slide tackle inside the 18. House played a key role in the success of the Bruin defense all evening.
Sarah Doyle recorded her first save of the night with seven minutes left in the first half.
Minutes later Doyle had another clutch save going across her bodyto keep Middle Tennessee off the scoreboard right before halftime.
The latter portion of the first 45 turned to the Bruins' favor, as they controlled possession, earning free kicks and corners in the Blue Raiders' end.
"I thought we came a little too tentative, just not ready to bring a spark from the beginning, for the first twenty and it cost us," Belmont head coach Heather Henson said. "As I told them we have to scrap the first twenty minutes and not let it happen again."
Doyle got tested with Middle Tennessee recording 15 shots. Her activity and attentiveness kept Belmont within range throughout the second half.
In the 78th minute, Haley Poynter recorded her first shot on goal of the season after Belmont connected several passes through the midfield. Anna Sweeney also took a free kick in the Blue Raiders' half but Middle Tennessee goalkeeper Hannah Suder was well-positioned.
Freshman Leah Firsdon entered the game and quickly made an impant. Her attack and set up for Sweeney nearly netted the equalizer, but the crossbar proved friendly to the host Blue Raiders.
Summer Curtis also made an impactful regular season debut, as her final third possession win and pass to Mai Thy Nugyen yielded a quality scoring chance.
Natalie Haverland and Megan Porras were also notable substitutions that added that spark that the team needed.
"We told everybody that no matter what your role is, if it's to start a game, if it's to come in and sub in, you have to be a spark," Henson added. "Those players were all really great examples of what that spark can do when you listen to instructions, you go out there and execute it."
Belmont returns to game action Sunday at Evansville. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
