Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UAB
@HerdMSoccer Tops Blazers 3-2 in OT Thriller
10/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall men's soccer team earned three vital Conference USA points in a 3-2 overtime win against the UAB Blazers Saturday at Hoops Family Field at Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex. Senior Matt Freeman (Irmo, S.C.) scored the winner on the team's Senior Night.
The Herd improves to 5-8-1 (1-5-1 C-USA), while the Blazers fall to 5-9-0 (2-5-0 C-USA).
AGAINST THE BLAZERS
Marshall scored its first goal in the 10th minute, after Daniel Jodah (Mississauga, Ontario) was unlocked after a throw in by Christian Kershaw (Severna Park, Md.). Jodah took his time and calmly slotted the ball past the UAB keeper Joe Kuzminsky to make the score 1-0.
It took until the second half for UAB to respond. Ian Svantesson scored his eighth of the season from the middle, with the assist credited to Lars Willemse to level the score.
In the 86th minute, Marshall's Rimario Gordon (Kingston, Jamaica) received the ball after a lovely exchange between junior Trevor Starcher (Hurricane, W.Va.) and Jodah. Gordon slotted the ball past Kuzminsky to make the score 2-1 and his team-leading fifth goal.
The Blazers responded almost immediately, with a goal from Karl Chester, his fifth of the season.
In the first extra period, senior Nick Edginton (Wellington, New Zealand) and Jodah managed to work the ball to senior Matt Freeman (Irmo, S.C.), who found himself open from around four yards out. From there, he poked the ball past Kuzminsky for the winner in the 93rd minute.
With the win, Marshall moves to four points, which puts the Herd in a much better position to force its way into Conference USA Championships contention.
THE GRAY AREA
Coach Bob Gray on the match:
"We're as good as any team in this conference when we play the way we want to. To be honest, I thought we should have put them away a lot earlier. When we were up 2-1, it's disappointing that we gave up that tying goal, but a win is a win and we are happy and moving on and put ourselves in a good position to get in the conference tournament."
"UAB is a good side. They're like us because they keep losing close games, but it was good to get a win against them, because they beat us last year twice. We were looking for a little payback and we got it. Now we can move on and look forward to Old Dominion. That game will mean everything."
#BEHERD
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NEXT UP:
Marshall will close out the regular season at Old Dominion on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.
---Herdzone.com---
