Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Appalachian State
Women's Soccer Wins the Best Western Huntington Mall Invitational
9/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 5, 2010
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University's Casey Walsh (Chalfont, Pa.) netted her first collegiate goal as the Thundering Herd defeated Appalachian State, 2-0 in Sunday afternoon's non-conference women's soccer game at Sam Hood Field. The win gave the Thundering Herd first place in the Best Western Huntington Mall Invitational.
The Herd earned its second consecutive shutout victory to improve to 2-1-2 on the season, while the Mountaineers dropped to 2-2 and earned a third place finish in the Invitational.
The first half proved to be an evenly matched contest, as the two battled through 44:39 of scoreless play. It was the freshman that would strike first for the Herd. Kaitlin Devine (Leonardtown, Md.) headed a centering pass into the six yard box that Janine Valerio (Washington Township, N.J.) collected. Valerio with her back facing the goal passed back to Walsh, who floated a shot over the Mountaineers goalkeeper Caroline Clarke.
Appalachian State continued to battle the Herd throughout a physical second half. The Mountaineers were unable to capitalize on any scoring opportunities but MU was once again able to take advantage of its chances.
In the 85th minute, defender Erin Blakely (Westerville, Ohio) sent a long clearance ball that made it over an Appalachian State defenders head and found MU's Erika Duncan (Easthaven, Scotland) who popped the ball straight up over a charging Clarke for her first goal of the season. Clarke received a yellow card after colliding with Duncan on the play.
Marshall outshot the Mountaineers 11-5 in the match, with the Herd defense limiting Appalachian State to only one shot on goal.
"The back four played really well this weekend and have come together nicely these past few days," MU head coach Kevin Long said. "This afternoon we didn't have to put too much pressure on Kerns in goal and I think that had a lot to do with the way the backline played."
Iona vs. Radford
In the third match of the Best Western Huntington Mall Invitational, Radford defeated Iona 1-0. The Gaels have dropped three straight one goal games, while the Highlanders improve to 3-1 on the season, its only loss coming on Friday night to the Herd.
After dropping two straight matches, Iona came out aggressive in its first-ever meeting with the Radford Highlanders. Just 1:49 seconds into the contest, Gael's Christinia Tesoriero passed back to teammate Abby Dixon, who blasted a shot from 20 yards out. Highlanders goalkeeper Che' Brown needed a full extension to get a fist on the ball and punch it over the net.
The Gael's continued to keep the pressure on Radford, but it was the Highlanders who would strike first. Latrice Lee dribbled the ball into the 18 yard box with a defender on her left hip, she dished a pass off to Julie Ruh'e who beat a diving Trista Rivera, to net her third goal of the season.
The Highlanders would end the tournament in second place, while Iona finished in fourth.
The Thundering Herd returns to action traveling to Athens, Ohio, looking to earn its second consecutive win verse Ohio University. The Herd defeated the Bobcats last season 1-0 for its first win in nine tries verse Ohio. MU will conclude the weekend in Lexington, Ky. on Sunday hoping to bounce back from a 4-1 loss to the Wildcats in 2009.
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