Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Ready for Final Non-Conference Opponent, Liberty
10/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 5, 2007
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall Thundering Herd men's soccer team travels to Lynchburg, Va., for its final non-conference match of the season against Liberty, Saturday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m.
The Herd is coming off a perfect 2-0 weekend in the Sunshine State. Marshall defeated conference foe Florida International, 1-0 and completed the successful weekend with a 2-1 overtime victory over Florida Atlantic.
Junior Kolby LaCrone registered the game-winning goal in the shutout over the Panthers and senior John Daniele recorded his first two goals of the season in the win over the Owls.
Daniele was rewarded for his efforts over the weekend with a pair of accolades. The Columbus, Ohio native garnered the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week award and earned a spot on the Soccer America Team of the Week.
Marshall is riding a six-match wining streak and has an overall record of 7-3-0 with a 1-0 record in conference play. The Herd is a perfect 3-0 on the road and boasts a 3-1 record at home.
LaCrone leads Marshall in with 13 points, six goals and is tied for first place in C-USA for goals scored. Johnson follows with nine points and three goals.
JD Hill leads the team with five assists and averages 0.56 assists per game, which places him fourth in C-USA. Osric Flores follows with four assists and a .44 assists per game average, good enough for fifth place in the conference.
Goalkeeper Craig Ratanamorn has stepped up for Marshall, replacing the injured Brad Kennedy. Ratanamorn leads the conference with 25 saves and is second with a .64 goals against average. While in goal, Ratanamorn is a perfect 5-0 with one shutout.
Marshall leads the conference in goals scored with 23 and is tied with SMU for assists with 20. Defensively, the Herd ranks among the best in the conference with 56 saves, eight more then second place Central Florida.
Liberty enters Saturday's game with a 6-2-1 record. The Flames are led by Adrian Bumbut and his six goals and three assists. Liberty's goalkeeper, Paul Gilbert, has been a big reason for the Flame's success. Gilbert has 23 seasons and five shutouts.
The Flames lead the all-time series against the Thundering Herd, 1-3. The lone win for Marshall came in 2001, in a 3-0 home victory. In 2003, the last time the two teams met, Liberty defeated the Herd 1-0 at its home pitch.
The Herd concludes non-conference play against the Flames, before hosting No. 11 SMU, Saturday, Oct. 13 at Sam Hood Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
