BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Coming off the team's first win of the season, the LIU Brooklyn women's soccer team will depart the northeast  for a two-game road trip in the Volunteer state. First, the Blackbirds will take on Middle Tennessee on Friday, August 31 at 8 p.m. Eastern, before heading to Nashville on Sunday, September 2 for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff at Belmont. This weekend will mark the first time the Blackbirds have ever faced either team from Tennessee.

AWAD'S HAT TRICK LEADS LIU OVER SPU
LIU senior forward Marian Awad, the team's leading active scorer, netted three goals in the Blackbirds last game, a 5-2 win at home over Saint Peter's. For her efforts, Awad was named Northeast Conference Player of the Week for the first time in her career. Alongside Awad was fellow forward Josie Watson who assisted on two of her classmate's goals and notched one of her own for a four point afternoon. Freshman defender Meredith Hill also collected her first tally of the season with the second goal of the game.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE PREVIEW
The Blue Raiders are 2-2 heading into the home match after losing their last contest, 3-0 to No. 13 Florida State in Tallahassee. One of Middle Tennessee's wins was against Belmont, 5-3, back on August 19. The team is led offensively by freshman Hannah Tillett with eight points, which includes two goals and four assists through the first four games. Forwards Maddison Falter and Sam Bebien also have a pair of goals for the Blue Raiders.

BELMONT PREVIEW
The Bruins (0-3) are searching for their first win of the season following losses to Lipscomb, Middle Tennessee and Western Carolina. Belmont is paced so far by sophomore forward Julie Garst with two goals (four points), heading into the matchup with the Blackbirds.

HEADING TO HARTFORD
After coming home from the road trip, the Blackbirds will make the short trip up to Hartford to face the Hawks on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 5 p.m., before coming back home on Sunday, Sept. 9 to host Iona at 1 p.m.