Marshall University Athletics
Men's Soccer Competes in Xavier Challenge this Weekend
8/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 31, 2006
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall men's soccer team takes part in the Marriott Kingsgate Xavier Challenge this weekend, meeting Western Illinois at 4 p.m. Friday and DePaul at noon Sunday at the Xavier Soccer Complex in Cincinnati, Ohio. Marshall will be facing the two programs for the first time in school history.
The Thundering Herd (1-1) split its first two matches of the season last week, defeating Manhattan, 4-1, Friday at home before allowing a late goal in a 2-1 loss at Louisville Sunday. In the opener, Karim Boukhemis (Sr., Huntington, W.Va.) scored a goal and added an assist, as four different Herd players posted goals in the victory.
Sunday, Kolby LaCrone (So., Zanesville, Ohio) scored Marshall's lone goal in the 10th minute on an assist from Michael MacDonald (Sr., Luton, England). The goal was LaCrone's first as a collegian, while MacDonald's assist was the 11th of his career, leaving him one helper shy of the top 10 all-time at Marshall.
Western Illinois (1-1) lost a 2-1 overtime match at Bowling Green last week to open its campaign before rebounding to knock off Detroit, 2-0, Sunday en route to earning the Bowling Green Invitational title. The Leathernecks went 6-10-4 overall last season but rode a late hot streak to capture the Mid-Continent Conference tournament championship and earn an NCAA Tournament bid. WIU then lost 2-0 to Notre Dame in the first round of the tournament. Kosuke Kimura, who was named MVP of the BGSU Invitational, leads the Leathernecks with a goal and an assist this year.
WIU is coached by Eric Johnson. He is 71-92-9 in 10 years at Western Illinois and 114-145-17 in 15 years as a head coach.
DePaul (1-1) lost its opener, 2-0, Friday to Valparaiso before bouncing back to down Loyola-Chicago, 2-1, Sunday. Freshman forward Alex Mangan scored both Blue Demon goals in the victory. DePaul is coming off a 4-11-2 mark in 2005, including a 2-8-1 mark in its inaugural season in the Big East Conference.
The Blue Demons are led by head coach Craig Blazer. He is 27-59-9 in six years as a head coach, all of which have been at DePaul.
Marshall returns home at 7 p.m. Wednesday to take on Cleveland State.
