The Florida Atlantic University womens soccer team fell in the opening round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament with a 3-1 loss to Middle Tennessee State University on Wednesday at Western Kentucky University. The loss ends the collegiate careers of seniors Janelle Blake, Laura Hyvonen, Sonia Richards and Anhnhi Tran. Middle Tennessee s Jaimee Cooper broke a 1-1 tie with a goal in the 59th minute following a corner kick by Whitney Jorgenson. The Blue Raiders later sealed the victory with a breakaway tally by Regina Thomas. FAUs lone goal was scored by Hyvonen and tied the match in the 49th minute on a shot to the left side of the goal. It was the seniors first goal of the season and was set up by a blocked shot from sophomore Tamara Kesser. Hyvonens goal quickly answered a goal less than a minute earlier by MTSU when Fran Howells successfully converted a penalty kick after a foul was committed by FAU in the 18-yard box. The Owls had several good scoring opportunities in the second half. Tran blistered a shot from 25 yards out that sailed over the crossbar, and freshman Brittney Nashs left foot kick from the right side of the box just missed the right post. If successful, those shots could have tied the match at 2-2. Hyvonen and Nash paced the teams offensive attack by taking two shots each. Taking single shots were junior Gabriela DeVries, Tran and Kesser. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Courtney Zwetsch matched her career high with nine saves. The Lutz, Fla. native made four saves in the first half and kept the match scoreless at intermission. FAU, the tournaments No. 7 seeded team, had eight starters playing in their first postseason match. Blake, a four-year starting player, moved into second place all-time for career minutes played (5,607) and seventh place in games started (72). The Owls conclude the season with a 6-13 record.
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