Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Women's Soccer Welcomes UAB, Memphis This Weekend
10/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 5, 2005
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall women's soccer team battles UAB and Memphis in Conference USA action this weekend at Sam Hood Field. Marshall and UAB face off at 5:30 p.m. Friday, while the Herd and Tigers play at noon Sunday.
"We're excited to be back home," Marshall head coach Chris Kane said. "We're looking forward to having a big home crowd and hopefully getting our first Conference USA win."
Marshall (1-9, 0-2 C-USA) returns home after suffering two close defeats on a Texas road trip. The Herd opened its trip with a 2-1 loss at Houston before dropping a 2-0 decision at Rice. Freshman Courtney Hoover (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) scored her first career goal in the Houston contest.
UAB (5-5-1, 1-0-1) is led by reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week Sally Palmer, who scored five goals last week in matches with UTEP and Tulane. Palmer recorded a hat trick in the first half of the 3-3 tie with the Miners, then scored two goals in the second half to lead the Blazers to a comeback win against Tulane. She leads UAB with six goals and 13 points this season.
Memphis (7-4, 1-1) opened its Conference USA campaign at home with a 6-0 win against Tulane before suffering a 3-2 defeat to UTEP. The Tigers feature Conference USA's leading scorer, Shoko Mikami, who leads the league in goals (13) and points (29). Goalkeeper Isabel Briones has been solid in goal with a 1.07 goals against average, which ranks third in C-USA.
Marshall and UAB have met just once, with the Blazers taking a 2-1 victory in 1998 in Birmingham. Memphis and Marshall have never met in women's soccer.
At halftime of both matches, the Firestone Kick to Win competition will take place. The winners from each home match will return in the final home match of the season to battle for the championship. The overall champion wins a set of new tires, valued at up to $400.
Also, the Goal Club will be hosting a pizza party after the Friday match for booster club members. Fans can get free posters and autographs after the Sunday match.
The Herd takes its final road trip of the regular season next weekend as it travels to Southern Miss and UCF.
