Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University to Host Conference USA Season Opener
9/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 24, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- The Marshall University women's soccer team will open Conference USA play as it looks to bounce back off its only loss of the season as it hosts the University of Houston and Rice University this weekend. The Herd, who wrapped up non-conference play with a 7-1 record, is off to its best start in school history.
Only twice since the programs conception in 1998 has MU women's soccer accumulated more than seven wins in a season. The first was in the 2000 season when it went 8-10-1 and then again in the following season when it racked up 11 wins, finishing with an overall record of 11-7-1.
Marshall split and went 1-1 this past weekend at the University of Kentucky Tournament. The Thundering Herd opened the Tournament on Friday night against Tennessee Tech and allowed its first goals of the season in a 3-2 victory.
Kristen Berquist (Highland Village, Texas) earned her second goal of the year to start off the scoring for the Herd who would score three goals in the first half to solidify the win. Angela DeSumma (Doylestown, Pa.) registered her fourth assist in four matches to bring her season total to six and to put her eighth nationally in assists per game.
Megan Tabler (Ashland, Ky.) and Erika Duncan (Easthaven, Scotland) each tallied their team-leading third goals of the season in the win. Tabler recorded the game-winner, her second of the season, while Duncan scored her second goal in two matches.
MU wrapped up the tournament against Western Kentucky University with a 4-1 loss, its first of the season, on Sunday afternoon. The Herd struck first with a Sarah Vinson goal (Amelia, Ohio), her second of the season, from a DeSumma corner kick. But four second half WKU goals were too much for the Herd. Four different Lady Toppers scored en route to the victory.
"This weekend was a bit of a reversal for us," head coach Kevin Long said. "Until this point our second half has been our strong point."
Freshman Vinson and co-captain Freya Holdaway (Llandrindod Wells, Wales) were named members of the All-Tournament team.
Despite losing their first game of the season, the Herd still ranks nationally in Division I as they are tied for 11th in shutout percent, and tied for 17th in win-loss-tie percentage.
Marshall opens the weekend against the University of Houston (2-5), with kickoff set for 8 p.m. on Friday night at Sam Hood Field. The Thundering Herd leads the all-time series 2-1, following last season's 2-1 victory over the Cougars in Houston.
Houston is in the midst of a five game road trip and is coming off a 1-0 loss to Stephen F. Austin on Friday night. Six of Houston's seven matches have been one goal games. Nikki Echeverria (Sugar Land, Texas) tallied a team-high three shots, including two on goal during Friday's match.
The Herd concludes the weekend with a noon kickoff on Sunday against Rice University (2-4-2). The Owls are coming off a 1-0-1 weekend, which included a 2-0 win over UT-San Antonio on Friday night, followed but a 1-1 double overtime draw against New Mexico on Sunday afternoon.
Erin Scott (Richardson, Texas) and Kate Edwards (Westlake Village, Calif.) each netted a goal in the victory against UTSA. The two combined for seven shots, four shots on goal and two goals on the night.
On Sunday Korey Taylor (McKinney, Texas) scored the game-tying goal in the 89th minute off a Hope Ward (Kingwood, Texas) corner kick. Taylor finished the game with a game-high four shots.
Goalkeeper Meghan Erkel (Granite Bay, Calif.) leads C-USA in saves (57), save percentage (0.864) and saves per game (7.12). She combined for 10 saves in the two matches over the weekend.
Rice leads the all-time series over Marshall, following last year's 3-1 victory. Shelley Wong (Virginia Beach, Va.) netted two goals on the night for the Owls, while Molly Snead (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored the lone goal for MU.
"We're excited to start conference play," Long said. "It is what we've been aiming for and striving for, and we're eager to start the challenge."
GameTracker will be available for both matches this weekend and can be accessed by logging on to the women's soccer schedule.
