Marshall University Athletics
@HerdWSoccer Announces 2015 Fall Schedule
5/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Marshall women's soccer coach Kevin Long has unveiled the Thundering Herd's 2015 fall schedule, as announced on Monday, with three first-meetings and several 2014 re-matches highlighting the campaign.
"We are excited to get started on our path towards a C-USA championship," Long said. "We look to get players back from injuries, we had a great spring, and our incoming class looks poised to make an immediate impact. Out of conference, we play some very good competition. Starting our season versus Monmouth and VCU will be great challenges for us and we will know immediately where we need to be to have success in the season. We look forward to great competition from teams we haven't played in a while and we certainly will have fierce competition from our local foes of Ohio University and EKU."
The Herd will partake in one exhibition match against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., on Aug. 15. Last season, Marshall took on the then fifth-ranked Hokies in scrimmage play at Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex, falling 4-0.
Marshall will kick-off its 2015 regular season with four road matches, starting with a first meeting with Monmouth (Aug. 21), then VCU (Aug. 23), IUPUI (Aug. 28) and Indiana State (Aug. 30). To open its home schedule, the Herd will host former MAC foe Ohio (Sept. 4) and Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 6). Marshall handled the Colonels on the road last season, 3-1, with all three goals coming in the second half.
Rounding out non-conference play will be road matches at East Tennessee State (Sept. 11) and Appalachian State (Sept. 13), followed by a home matchup with James Madison (Sept. 20).
To begin Conference USA play, Marshall will host the 2014 league runner-up North Texas (Sept. 25). The Mean Green eliminated the Herd from the first round of the C-USA Tournament in a 2-0 decision last season.
"The conference has proven to be extremely competitive over the last two years," Long said. "We start our conference schedule against North Texas, the regular-season champion who ended our season last year, and Rice, and the conference tournament champion. Both games will create a strong foundation to move forward throughout the remaining schedule."
The Herd will then take on 2014 C-USA Tournament Champion Rice in a home match (Sept. 27), followed by a four-game road trip at UTSA (Oct. 2), UTEP (Oct. 4), UAB (Oct. 9) and Middle Tennessee (Oct. 11). Marshall will then host the Floridian C-USA members on Oct. 16 and 18 (Florida Atlantic and FIU, respectively), followed by a final road match at Western Kentucky (Oct. 23). The Herd will close out regular-season play at home against Old Dominion on Oct. 30.
"We hope that playing at home late in the season and only playing two games over the last 11 days of regular season will allow us to mend some injuries and regain some energy as we hopefully move into tournament play," Long said.
Marshall returns seven of its 11 starters from 2014, including rising senior Kelly Culicerto (Charlotte, N.C.), who garnered All-C-USA first team and All-Academic honors last season. She led the Herd with eight goals, including five game-winners, and played every minute of all 19 matches.
The 2015 C-USA Tournament will be hosted by FIU in Miami, with dates to be determined.
2015 Marshall Women's Soccer Schedule
Aug. 15 -- at Virginia Tech (exhibition)
Aug. 21 -- at Monmouth (first meeting)
Aug. 23 -- at VCU
Aug. 28 -- at IUPUI
Aug. 30 -- at Indiana State (first meeting)
Sept. 4 -- vs. Ohio
Sept. 6 -- vs. Eastern Kentucky
Sept. 11 -- at East Tennessee State (first meeting)
Sept. 13 -- at Appalachian State
Sept. 20 -- vs. James Madison
Sept. 25 -- vs. North Texas*
Sept. 27 -- vs. Rice*
Oct. 2 -- at UTSA*
Oct. 4 -- at UTEP*
Oct. 9 -- at UAB*
Oct. 11 -- at Middle Tennessee*
Oct. 16 -- vs. Florida Atlantic*
Oct. 18 -- vs. FIU*
Oct. 23 -- at Western Kentucky*
Oct. 30 -- vs. Old Dominion*
The complete Marshall women's soccer schedule with times (subject to change) can be viewed online.
For all the latest information about Marshall women's soccer, follow @HerdWSoccer on Twitter.
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