Marshall University Athletics
Women's Soccer Kick Starts Conference USA Action
9/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 22, 2010
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- The Marshall University women's soccer team opens the second half of its season, jump starting Conference USA play with key matchups against Southern Miss and No. 23 UCF in hopes of beginning the road to its first-ever C-USA tournament appearance.
"The entire team is excited about starting conference play, we've had 12 days off and we are energized and eager to go," head coach Kevin Long said. "We've got two good games, good competition and we are ready to start playing better. We had an up and down non-conference schedule, so we are ready to show the consistent quality of play that we know that we have inside of us."
Marshall completed non-conference action with back-to-back 1-0 losses to Ohio University and University of Kentucky. MU looks to hop out of its two game funk, behind the production of point's leader Angela DeSumma (Doylestown, Pa.), goal leader Sarah Vinson (Amelia, Ohio) and Preseason All-Conference selection Erika Duncan (Easthaven, Scotland).
The Thundering Herd looks to spoil the Golden Eagles perfect 3-0 season home record on Friday, Sept. 24. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Marshall Bell Track and Soccer Complex.
Southern Miss at 3-4-1 enter Friday night's contest seeking its first C-USA win since Sept. 28, 2008 when it earned a 1-0 victory against UAB. A 3-1 Herd win last season tied the all-time series at three apiece.
The Golden Eagles are fronted by the play of Chelsea Cruthirds who scored her team-leading third goal of the season in the squad's final non-conference match, a 2-0 win against Northwestern State.
Goalkeeper Hannah Vanderboegh combined for nine saves in Southern Miss's latest contests to jump her season total to 29.
MU follows Friday night seeking its first-ever win over the Knights on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the confines of the UCF Soccer Complex.
The Knights come off a successful weekend in which it went 1-0-1 at the Cats Classic, tying Arizona 1-1 and knocking off No. 19 Arizona State 5-0. UCF swept C-USA Player of the Week honors this past week, as Tishia Jewell tallied two goals and an assist, while goalkeeper Aline Reis registered 14 saves en route to being the tournament's defensive MVP. Jewell leads the team with four goals, four assists, 12 points and 16 shots. She enters the weekend tied for 53rd in the nation in points per game.
GameTracker will be available for both matches on the weekend, by logging on to the women's soccer schedule.
Sunday's contest will be televised locally in Orlando by the Bright House Sports Network.
