Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Hosts Home Opener
8/31/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 31, 2011
Huntington, W. Va. - The Marshall women's soccer team returns home Friday night, September 2 to host a 7 P.M. affair against Ohio University at Sam Hood Field. After opening up the 2011 season with a three-game road trip, The Herd looks to end its current two-game losing streak.
The Bobcats have bullied The Herd in the past 13 seasons, as Ohio boasts an 8-1-1 record against Marshall. In 2010 MU lost a heartbreaker to Ohio, as the Bobcats capitalized on a penalty shot in the 82nd minute that gave OU the 1-0 victory. The loss snapped Marshall's first winning streak of the season.
Thus far The Herd has posted a 1-2-0 record in the 2011 campaign. Marshall opened up the season by stealing a 3-2 road victory against St. Francis University, who lost in overtime to Ohio State University in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. The Herd then fell twice in the VCU Tournament to Virginia Commonwealth University and The College of William and Mary. Seniors Angela DeSumma (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East HS) and Katie Ball (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual HS) were both selected to the All-Tournament team.
Ohio University has also tallied a 1-2-0 record throughout the 2011 season. The Bobcats hosted two home games to begin the fall, losing a 1-0 match to Wright State and shutting out Pittsburgh 2-0. Ohio then fell to Kentucky on the road Sunday, 2-1. Three seniors lead the way for the Bobcats with one goal each.
Coach Kevin Long knows Ohio well and will look to prepare his team accordingly for the upcoming foe. Long states, "Our battles in the last few years have been very close and highly competitive. Ohio will be an excellent match to test our current competition level and prepare us for a strong #24 West Virginia Sunday."
Long further notes, "This rivalry weekend will be a great opportunity for our women to show that they have more in them than last weekend's stats suggest. Our team needs to find its groove and focus on our strengths in attacking on offense."
The game can be heard live on WMUL here, and live stats may also be viewed online.
