Competition Starts With Two Home Exhibition Games

8/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Aug. 14, 2009

Huntington, W.Va. - The Marshall men's soccer team will have just three days of preparation before taking the field for their first of three exhibition games as they host NAIA perennial power Rio Grande on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at Sam Hood Field.

Head Coach Bob Gray and the Herd, who return just five seniors this season and add 11 new faces to camp, will have the opportunity to examine the team against strong competition. Rio Grande, winners of nine of the last 11 American Mideast Conference South Division titles is coming of a 2008 record of 19-4-1.

The RedStorm have made nine consecutive NAIA national tournament appearances.

Two days later Marshall welcomes Division II standout Northern Kentucky to Sam Hood Field. NKU posted a 16-3-4 record a season ago and returns 14 letter winners to the 2009 roster.

Both exhibition games start at 7 p.m.

MU plays their final friendly in Cincinnati against IUPUI on Aug. 25 before opening the regular season on Sept. 1 at Bowling Green.