MURFREESBORO, Tenn. \u2013 The Middle Tennessee women’s soccer team will commence a three-match homestand when it welcomes Miami (OH) to Dean A. Hayes Stadium on Thursday at 7 p.m.
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\nThe Blue Raiders (3-0-1) will look to stay undefeated when the RedHawks (1-2-0) come to town in MTSU’s first home match since the season opener against Troy on Aug. 13. The contest will also mark MTSU’s Mental Health Awareness Match, with the Middle Tennessee players wearing special shirts during warm-ups to commemorate the special occasion.
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\nQuick Kicks<\/p>\n
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\n\tMiddle Tennessee has not conceded a goal through its first four matches in a season for the first time in program history and is one of six NCAA Division I programs to stay spotless after four contests.
\n\tJunior goalkeeper Demi Gronauer<\/a> earned CUSA Goalkeeper of the Week honors on Aug. 25 after recording back-to-back clean sheets against UT Martin (0-0) and West Georgia (2-0), moving her into a tie with Sydney Chalcraft (2016-19) for seventh all-time at MTSU with nine career shutouts.
\n\tSophomore defender Scottie Newton<\/a> took home CUSA Defender of the Week honors on Aug. 18 after playing 174 minutes and helping her team to notch two clean sheets\u00a0and the face fewest shots by any CUSA team (13) through its first\u00a0two matches.
\n\tSophomore defender\/midfielder Charli Dunn<\/a> was recently called up to represent the New Zealand U-20 National Team at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland from Sept. 5-27, where she will begin with group stage matches against Italy, the United States, and Japan.
\n\tFreshman Ania Denham<\/a> has hit the ground running in her collegiate career, becoming the first Blue Raider this season to record multiple goal contributions with a goal and an assist against West Georgia on Sunday, Aug. 23. She currently leads the team with two goals and is tied for the team lead in assists.
\n\tDefenders Jess Gray<\/a>, Scottie Newton<\/a>, and Mya Stenehjem<\/a> have been productive on both sides of the ball as they recorded their first career assists in 2026 while helping maintain the best goal difference of any CUSA team with +6.
\n\tTeam captains Hannah Murphy<\/a> and Megan Carroll<\/a> have led by example in 2026, with Murphy converting a penalty kick against Troy and assisting Ania Denham’s<\/a> header against West Georgia, while Carroll scored MTSU’s second goal against Southern Indiana to help the Blue Raiders open the season 3-0-1.
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\nSeries History
\nThe Blue Raiders and RedHawks will meet for the first time in program history on Thursday night.
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\nScouting the RedHawks
\nMiami (OH) travels to Murfreesboro after finishing 11-5-3 (8-2-2 MAC) and second in the Mid-American Conference in 2025. The RedHawks’ season ended in the semifinals of the MAC Women’s Soccer Championship after a 0-0 (3-4 PKs) loss to Bowling Green. The 2025 MAC regular-season runner ups were picked to once again finish second in the 2026 MAC Preseason Poll.
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\nMiami retained four of its six conference award winners, with All-MAC selections Katie O’Malley (first team) and Kayla Perfect (second team) and All-Freshman recipients Caroline Mortonson and Jaden Sink.
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\nThe RedHawks are led by ninth-year head coach Courtney Sirmans, who produced Miami’s winningest season since 2014 in the 2025 campaign (11-5-3, 8-2-2 MAC).
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\nFollow the Blue Raiders
\nStay up to date with MTSU Soccer on Instagram (@mt_wsoccer<\/a>), X (@MT_Soccer<\/a>), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Soccer<\/a>). \u00a0
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