Caldwell County grad Rachel McClung did not go to Murray State for athletics. But the former Lady Tiger still found herself starting in the net on Saturday when the Racer women’s soccer team hosted the University of Tennessee.
McClung, a 2023 CCHS grad, had been playing intramural soccer at Murray State and holding her own against the guys on those teams.
She played well enough that some of those players told MSU soccer coach Matt Lodge about her. And when the Racers ran short of goalkeepers this spring, Lodge contacted McClung about filling in.
McClung was quickly ruled eligible by the NCAA Clearinghouse, and started for Murray State in Saturday’s spring schedule finale against the Southeastern Conference school at Cutchin Field on the MSU campus.
McClung was actually set to play against North Alabama the previous weekend, but UNA was forced to cancel that contest due to a lack of players.
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers took Saturday’s match 5-0.
It appears to be just a one-time fill-in for McClung, who was Caldwell’s starting keeper as a junior and senior, and also saw some starting action in the net as a sophomore.
But McClung’s college experience now includes starting at goalkeeper for the Racers in what is believed to be Tennessee’s first trip ever to Murray State in any sport.
