Marshall University Athletics
Women's Soccer Concludes Eight-Match Road Trip This Weekend
10/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 2, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University women's soccer team will conclude its eight-match road trip this weekend as the Thundering Herd continues with Conference USA competition. The Herd will face the Southeast Region's 8th-ranked University of Central Florida, Friday, and then meet Southern Miss Sunday.
Marshall travels to Orlando, Fla. with kick-off set for 7 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex. The Herd will then meet the Golden Eagles at the Marshall Bell Track and Soccer Complex in Hattiesburg, Miss. with time set for 2 p.m. (EST).
The Herd enters the weekend 3-3-4 overall, 1-1-0 in C-USA action, while UCF is 6-3-1 overall, 1-1-0 in league play and Southern Miss is 5-4-1 overall, 1-1-0 in conference competition.
"After our first weekend of conference play, I am even more excited about getting deeper into the conference," Marshall's interim head coach Kevin Long said. "Across the conference, last weekend's results show that everyone is playing good soccer and things will be very competitive from here on in."
Marshall opened conference play last weekend in Houston, Texas against league rivals, the University of Houston and Rice University. The Herd got its first C-USA opening victory over Houston, 2-1, but then fell 3-1 to the Owls last Sunday.
UCF enters the weekend on a one-game winning streak after defeating C-USA foe, the University of Memphis, 2-1, in overtime last weekend. The Knights lead the all-time series, which dates back to the first meeting in 2005, 3-0.
In the most recent meeting, UCF took a 4-0 decision in Orlando last season. Sophomore Emma Harrison (Christchurch, New Zealand), along with previous players Mollie Lee and Sara Burdick, recorded one shot on goal to lead the Herd in the league opener.
The Golden Eagles are currently on a one-match winning streak after an overtime 1-0 victory over league rival, UAB, last weekend. Last season, Southern Miss took a 1-0 decision over Marshall at Hattiesburg, Miss. to tie the all-time series, 2-2, which dates back to 2002.
In the 1-0 defeat, Ali Lizotte (Iron Station, N.C.) recorded three shots, while Molly Snead (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Missy Gordon (Carmel, Ind.) notched two.
"Our split on the road last weekend was a good eye-opener," Coach Long continued. "We go into this weekend on the attack, hoping to get two wins."
Freshman Angela DeSumma (Doylestown, Pa.) stands tied with seven other players as the nation's 30th-ranked assists leader with six. The forward also stands alone as the conference assists and assists per game leader.
Forward Erika Duncan (Easthaven, Scotland) leads the league in points with 14 and in goals with six. The sophomore stands fourth overall in the league with 30 shots.
Co-captain keeper Liz Orton (Fort Collins, Colo.) has 980 playing minutes and 41 saves so far this season. The junior has registered 231 saves so far in her three-year career. Orton's 41 saves puts her fourth in C-USA.
Marshall has outshot its opponents 160-to-104 so far in ten matches. As a team, the Herd stands second in shots amongst the league's twelve members.
The Herd has notched 17 goals so far this season, which has them tied for third with Rice in the league.
Marshall's away record so far this season is 3-3-2, while the home record is 0-0-2.
"We will look for a little better job defending; three goals against us on Sunday are too many, and the goals Rice scored were too easy," Coach Long added. "We have to do a better job protecting our net and capitalize on our quality goal scoring opportunities, which both will be keys to our weekend."
GameTracker will be available for both matches by clicking the Marshall women's soccer schedule.
Herd fans can view and purchase photos from the 2008 women's soccer season at http://herdsportsphotos.exposuremanager.com/ under "2008 Women's Soccer."
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