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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Junior Andrea Larsen scored her first goal of the season on a header in the 39th minute on Friday evening, giving WKU a 1-0 victory over Middle Tennessee in rivalry action at the WKU Soccer Complex.
The Lady Toppers (9-4-0, 4-1-0) jumped ahead on the strike late in the first half and staved off the Blue Raiders (3-8-1, 1-4-0) down the stretch to claim the victory. WKU has now won six of its last seven contests and has collected 12 points in C-USA play. Friday's shutout was also WKU's seventh of the season, four of which have come in conference play.
Iris Dunn led all players with three shots and a pair of shots on goal on Friday evening, while five other Lady Toppers also put shots on target. Nahyo Jalajel was credited with the assist on Larsen's goal after serving in a free kick from the right side of the field, placing it into the box where Larsen found it with her head.
For the Blue Raiders, Haley Nishimoto was the lone player with more than one shot on the night after firing a pair. Cameron Cox and Abbie Brown notched the lone shots on goal for Middle Tennessee.
In goal, Allison Leone collected her sixth solo shutout of 2016 with two saves while playing the full 90 minutes. The reigning C-USA Goalkeeper of the Week made a critical save in the 64th minute, shutting down a one-on-one chance against Cox at the edge of the box.
Celeste Barnard made her collegiate debut for the Blue Raiders in goal, making six saves while surrendering Larsen's match-winner in her 90 minutes of action.
WKU peppered Barnard with offensive pressure early, forcing the sophomore into four saves over the opening 20 minutes of play. Dunn's close header was stopped in the seventh minute before Jalajel nearly found the go-ahead score just over one minute later on a hard strike from 25 yards out, but the Lady Toppers could not break the early deadlock.
Larsen finally provided the breakthrough at the 38:06 mark off Jalajel's free kick service. Played in from the right side, the junior went up and met the ball with her head, sending it high into the right corner to beat the outstretched arm of Barnard. WKU carried the 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
Coming out of the locker room, the Blue Raiders found an offensive rhythm with four chances over the first 20 minutes of the second frame. Nishimoto sent two attempts just high and left of the goal early, while Cox's aforementioned effort in the 64th minute nearly pulled Middle Tennessee even, but Leone made the stop despite being caught out of position.
Neither team was able to place a shot on target over the final 20 minutes of the match as WKU held on for the 1-0 victory in the rivalry match.
WKU will remain at home for its next match as it welcomes UAB to the WKU Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Lady Toppers hold a 1-0-1 record all-time against the Blazers and earned a 1-1 draw in the most recent meeting in Birmingham, Ala., on Oct. 11, 2015, last season.
Season tickets are available online at WKUSports.com or by phone at 1-800-5-BIGRED. A $25 flexible ticket package is available that includes all three remaining regular season home matches against UAB, UTSA and Old Dominion.
For more information on WKU Soccer, visit WKUSports.com or follow the team via social media @WKU_Soccer on Twitter and Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUAthletics.
