Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
ETSU
Buccaneers Steal Victory from Herd
9/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 4, 2011
Final Stats (PDF)
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- The third time didn't prove to be the charm for the Thundering Herd men's soccer team on Sunday night as it lost its third straight game in a rain-soaked encounter to the visiting East Tennessee State Buccaneers.
The phrase "when it rains, it pours," rang true for Marshall in more ways than one at Sam Hood field on the evening, as the Herd slipped to its third consecutive defeat with no-goals-scored amidst a torrential downpour.
After lightning and heavy storms delayed the contest some 20 minutes, the teams took to the saturated pitch following a shortened warm-up, and immediately it was the ETSU Buccaneers who nearly got on the score sheet with an Aaron Schoenfeld shot that flew just wide of the Marshall net some four minutes in. The early attack would prove to be a sign of things to come for the Bucs, who managed to control the run of play for large portions of the first half despite being outshot 9-5 in the opening period.
In the 20th minute the Bucs found the goal they had been searching for, as Schoenfeld was again involved, this time flicking on an Alesis Osorio pass for the onrushing David Geno to head home for a 1-0 ETSU lead. Marshall nearly responded at the end of the first half when Tom Jackson collected a deflected pass in the ETSU 18-yard box, but the junior forward could not steer the shot beyond Buccaneers goalkeeper Ryan Coulter, who had 9 saves and a shutout victory on the night.
The second half picked up with ETSU again looking the more lively side, as the Bucs put together several shots in the opening minutes. Marshall settled down, though, and began creating its own chances going forward, but in the 81st minute, ETSU doubled its advantage with another well-struck goal. This time, midfielder Frank Doumbe found himself in space on a counterattack, and he slid the ball through for Schoenfeld to slam home from 12 yards out.
The Herd would come close in the final five minutes through a Carl Munday shot that Coulter just managed to tip wide of the post, but when the final whistle blew, it was the ETSU Buccaneers who improved to 3-0 while the Herd dropped to 0-3.
The loss means Marshall is still yet to score a goal so far through the 2011 season, and the team will get its next shot when it travels to Michigan on Friday night for a 5:00 p.m. showdown with the Wolverines. The Herd will also travel to Michigan State on the trip for a Sunday night game against the Spartans before returning home on September 16, to play Oakland University.
