Marshall University Athletics
Women's Soccer Takes on Winthrop and Radford
9/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 3, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W.Va .- Marshall University looks to improve on its 3-0 start when it hosts Winthrop University (0-1-1) on Friday night at Sam Hood Field. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. This will be the first ever meeting between the two schools. The Herd then travels to Virginia on Sunday to take on Radford University (2-0) to conclude its weekend.
MU is coming off a monumental weekend in which it won the Duquesne University Tournament, earned its first overtime victory since September 1, 2001, and is now off to its best start in nine years.
Senior goalkeeper Liz Orton (Ft. Collins, Colo.) and Megan Tabler (Ashland, Ky.) both had a standout weekend.
Orton earned Conference USA's Defensive Player of the Week honors after tallying her 10th and 11th career shutouts, making her Marshall's all-time career leader. Orton registered five saves in the 1-0 victory over host Duquesne University and added seven more saves in the 2-0 win against Manhattan College.
Tabler tallied a team leading two goals in this weekend's tournament, including the game-winner in Friday night's overtime match.
Marshall joins Memphis as the only two teams in Conference USA to not allow a goal this season.
"The team is very excited about their productivity so far and are eager for the next games," Marshall Head Coach Kevin Long said. "They recognize that they've played good opponents, gotten good wins, and are accomplishing some things that haven't been done here in a while."
The Eagles of Winthrop University look to get their first victory of the 2009 season when they travel to Huntington. The Eagles suffered a 3-1 loss to Davidson College to start the season. The following week they battled to a 0-0 double overtime tie against Elon University.
Winthrop goalkeepers Kelsy Weavil (Raleigh, N.C.) and Sarah Schippers (Solon, Ohio) have combined for 18 saves in two games. Weavil, a Big South Player of the Week nominee, had a season high nine saves to earn her first shutout in only her third career start in the match with the Phoenix.
The Eagles have averaged 6.5 shots per game and received their only goal of the year from junior Tricia Vensel (Murrysville, Pa.).
"Winthrop is a very dangerous team," Long said. "Their hungry for their first win and this will be another hard fought game."
After Friday's contest, the Herd travels to the Patrick D. Cupp Memorial Stadium on Sunday to take on the defending Big South Champions, Radford. Radford is in the middle of a five game home stand in which they have already gained victories over Howard University, 2-1 and Tennessee Tech University, 1-0.
Big South Player of the Week Amanda Heins (Sterling, Va.) and junior Jourdan McDaniel (Roanoke, Va.) each netted their first collegiate goals in the win over Howard.
Sophomore Melony Davis (Ashburn, Va.) tallied her first goal of the season in the 82nd minute, to notch the game-winner as Radford defeated Tennessee Tech on Sunday.
Goalkeeper Lisa Lubke (Columbus, Ohio), the Big South preseason pick for Player of the Year, has played every minute for the Highlanders and has registered six saves and one shutout so far this season.
Marshall looks to even the all-time series over Radford, which stands at 0-1-1.
GameTracker will be available for Friday night's match against Winthrop by clicking the Marshall women's soccer schedule.
Friday's match will be broadcasted live on WMUL 88.1 and can be heard online at www.marshall.edu/WMUL , then click stream one. Coverage starts at 6:45 p.m.
Sunday's match will be covered on the Big South Network at http://www.bigsouthsports.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?&&&DB_OEM_ID=4800.
