Marshall University Athletics
2009 Marshall Men's Soccer Season Recap
11/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 18, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University men's soccer team more than tripled its win total from the 2008 campaign, and doubled its Conference USA winning mark in the 2009 season. The Herd finished with an overall record of 10-7-2 and a conference record of 6-2. MU was second in both the C-USA regular-season and post-season. Seven players landed on all-conference teams, and Bob Gray was the 2009 Conference USA Coach of the Year. It was a year that put Marshall soccer back on the national map.
And the future looks just as bright.
It was a quick rebuilding process for Coach Gray, the fourth-winningest active coach in Division I (394 wins). With eight seniors graduating from last year's team, MU was picked to finish eighth in conference, according to C-USA preseason coaches polls. However, with the most talented freshman class in the conference, along with a core group of returners, Marshall took the conference by storm.
Senior Dustin Dawes led the team in goals with seven, points with 16, and led C-USA with four game-winning goals. The center midfielder was an All-Conference USA First-Team selection, and a member of the C-USA All-Academic Team.
Coach Gray's confidence in his freshmen was evident in the Conference USA Tournament semi-final match with UAB. After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, the Herd defeated the Blazers 4-3 in a penalty shootout. The four Marshall goals came from freshman. Tom Jackson, Devin Perkins, Zach Hunter and Aaron Hembree all connected on their attempts.
The emergence of goalie Daniel Withrow was well documented all season. The redshirt freshman also came up huge in the penalty shootout, saving two of the five UAB shots, including the fifth and final attempt.
Withrow, the Conference USA Freshman of the Year, stopped all three PK's he faced during the regular-season. Including the shootout, he denied an incredible five of eight penalty shots taken against him this season.
The Rochester Hills, Mich., native was second in conference with a .793 saves percentage. He posted a record of 9-6-2 in net for Marshall, and tallied three points on one goal and one assist. Withrow's game-winning goal came at South Carolina on a free-kick from just over midfield in the 78th minute, and gave MU a 2-1 triumph.
Other accolades for Withrow include: Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 21), Soccer America National Team of the Week (Sept 22), All-Conference USA Second-Team and Conference USA All-Freshman Team.
The Herd's back line deserves all the credit in the world as well. Marshall gave up 46 goals last season in 17 games. This year, anchored by senior captain Matt Dickerson and All-Conference USA Third-Team performer Kendall Sutton, MU was scored on just 21 times in 19 matches.
Tom Jackson played in 13 games for the Herd and accumulated 12 points on five goal and two assists. He and Dawes each scored a team-high four goals in C-USA action. Jackson, along with Devin Perkins, joined Withrow on the Conference USA All-Freshman Team.
Sam Hood Field was restored as one of the best home-field advantages in C-USA in 2009. Marshall was 6-1 at home and outscored its opponents 16-6. Since 1996 when Sam Hood Field opened, MU is 66-31-7.
Notable wins on the season include two victories over nationally ranked opponents, at No. 22 Kentucky (1-0), and No. 16 UAB (3-2) at home. The Herd trounced SMU 4-1 in front of a packed home crowd, and beat South Carolina 2-1 in Columbia, S.C.
Although seniors Dustin Dawes, Matt Dickerson, JD Kepler, Michael Bolt and Greg Walter graduate in May, the Herd will return nine starters. Expectations are high for the Marshall University men's soccer team in 2010. MU will have a target on its back next season, and should fully expect to contend for a C-USA championship.
