Marshall University Athletics
Men's Soccer Falls at MAC Tournament
11/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Men's Soccer Falls at MAC Tournament
11/6/2004
- Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Thundering Herd men's soccer team gave up a 2-0 lead to the Western Michigan Broncos and fell, 5-3 in a shootout in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament on Friday.
With the loss, the Herd ends the season with a record of 10-8-2. It marked the fourth loss in two seasons to the Broncos (8-6-4).
The Herd started strong, recording two goals less than 20 minute into the game. Jeremy Ashe (Cinnaminson, NJ) opened the scoring for MU when he turned a turnover in the top of the box into a goal at the 14 minute mark.
Nicholas Ademolu (Windsor, Ont.) gave Marshall a 2-0 lead less than four minutes later. He beat two defenders to a pass and put it behind the net from 15 yards out.
Both goals came after the Bronco defense was unable to fully clear the ball from danger. Marshall converted on its first two shots on goal.
The score remained 2-0 until Bronco Chris Okroy fired a shot inside the near post six minutes into the second half. Herd goalie Joe Nebel (Brentwood, TN) made three point blank saves on Okroy, but the fourth found the back of the net to make it a 2-1 game.
With less than five minutes left, Nebel collided with WMU?s Giuliano Teixiera in the middle of the box trying to handle a cross and senior Ryan Goldman was able to one-time the ball into the net to tie the score.
The Herd had a chance to win the game, but Okroy made a save on a shot heading for an empty net. In the first overtime period, a Marshall goal was called back after the Herd was called for being offside.
After two scoreless overtime periods, the game remained tied, which meant a shootout would take place. Western Michigan took the field first and made all five of their shots.
Marshall went next and the shots taken by Firas Al-Samarraie (Malmoe, Sweden), Clayton Cochrane (Morrisville, PA) and Jeff Lenix (Westerville, OH) found the back of the net, but WMU goalie Ian Spooner made the save on Kirk Gibson's (Allen, TX) shot to seal the win for WMU.
Western Michigan out-shot Marshall, 23-10 for the game. Ashe led the way with three shots. Joe Nebel made five saves in the game while Spooner of WMU made three saves on Marshall.
In other tournament action on Friday, six seed Buffalo topped the third seeded Northern Illinois Huskies, 2-1 while #2 Akron earned a 1-0 win over Bowling Green.
