Women’s soccer is scheduled to return to Huntington this weekend. Games are scheduled to be played Friday evening and Sunday afternoon by the Marshall University women’s team. They will enter with an overall record of 3-5-3 and 1-2-1 in conference.

The women’s team had two weeks on the road, playing games at Williamsburg, Virginia and Denton, Texas during the first week. Both those trips resulted in losses, with the Texas game counting toward the conference record.

In the second week, the women’s team fared better, tying at Hattiesburg, Mississippi against the University of Southern Mississippi. The final to that game was 1-1, with both goals being scored within the first ten minutes of the match.

During the second game, the women’s team won in overtime in Ruston, Louisiana. They trailed early, allowing a goal in the sixth minute. The game was tied by Shontelle Smith late in the second half off a free kick. Jayne Lawman scored in the first overtime period, ending the match for a Thundering Herd victory.

The Thundering Herd will be welcoming the University of Alabama’s Birmingham Blazers to Huntington Friday night with kickoff set to be at 5 p.m.

UAB has been a solid team, notching a 4-6-1 overall record, but they have not won or tied a game outside of Birmingham this season. UAB is led in goals by sophomore Jessica Do with four on the season.

The Thundering Herd lost last year to the Blazers in Birmingham, but won the last time the two played in Huntington. Both contests were decided by a single goal, with the most recent game going into overtime.

The women’s team will then face off against Middle Tennessee State University Sunday with kickoff at 2 p.m. The Blue Raiders have a record of 3-7-1 overall, but will play at conference leading Western Kentucky University Friday night before coming to Huntington.

The leading goal scorer for the Blue Raiders is Salera Jordan, who has five goals on the season. She is set up by Courteney Gibson, who leads the team in assists with four.

Slow starts have plagued the Blue Raiders, as they are being outscored 12- 4 in the first half by opponents. They improve in the second half as they have outscored opponents 12- 11. Similar to UAB, MTSU has yet to register an away victory, but has recorded a win on a neutral field.

The Thundering Herd won last year in Murfreesboro, Tennessee 3-2, but lost 4-2 when the teams played this year on Sept. 18. The Blue Raiders claimed victory the last time the two played in Huntington with the final score 1-0.

Joseph Ashley can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter @Joseph_AshleyMU.