Box Score 

Season Statistics 

DENTON -- The North Texas soccer team won its fifth straight game and remained atop the conference standings with a 2-1 win against Middle Tennessee on Friday night at the Mean Green Soccer Complex.

For the first time in over a month, the Mean Green held a two-goal cushion heading into halftime, but the Blue Raiders swung the momentum back their way with a tally right before half. Despite the Blue Raiders pushing players up in the second half, the North Texas defense held strong to seal the win.

"I was really proud of my team tonight," said North Texas head coach John Hedlund. "Most teams would have been a little rattled giving up a goal right before the half but not this team. The senior leadership and character of this team just continues to impress me, it's really been a fun group to coach."

Set plays were key for the Mean Green. Both goals were scored off corner kicks, and North Texas had numerous other opportunities from dangerous balls put into play by Karla Pineda. The Mean Green held a 7-2 advantage on corner kicks. Six of those corner kicks were in the first period.

For the second straight game, North Texas scored an early goal. The first goal was set up by a Pineda corner in the 14th minute. Marchelle Davis headed the ball off the corner from the middle off the penalty box towards the goal. The shot was blocked off the goal line by a Middle Tennessee defender, but the ball remained in the six-yard box where Molly Grisham finished it into the net.

The second goal was also off a corner kick. The ball stayed in the box after a shot and save by the MT keeper. Alexsis Cable kept the ball from going out of bounds at the endline by lofting a kick back across the goal. Rachel Holden ran onto the ball, heading it into the net for the eventual gamewinner.

Kathy Thomas sent a long ball into the box at the 44th minute for Middle Tennessee where Tori Hawkins headed it back into the goal to put the pressure back on the Mean Green.

Next up for North Texas

• North Texas continues its homestand with a Sunday afternoon game against UAB at 1 p.m.

Mean Green Quick Hitters

•North Texas remains undefeated in conference play with a 5-0-1 record. The Mean Green also remains in first place in the conference standings.

• The Mean Green won its fifth straight game, tying a season high.

• It is the second straight game that North Texas has scored a first-half goal. It is the fourth time this season that North Texas has scored two first-half goals.

• North Texas gave up its second goal in conference play. The goal snapped a shutout streak of 274 minutes.

• Rachel Holden scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season.

• Jackie Kerestine recorded 10 saves, the second most this season.

Alexsis Cable is tied for second on the team with three assists.