Marshall University Athletics
Thundering Herd Kicks Off Regular Season This Weekend
8/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Marshall women's soccer team will begin its 2016 regular season with trips to Purdue Friday (7 p.m.) and Michigan Sunday (2 p.m.).
The Thundering Herd and Boilermakers last met in 2014 with Purdue pulling out a come-from-behind 2-1 victory in Huntington.
The Boilermakers, who went 9-8-1 last season, lost Maddy Williams, the program's top goal scorer in each of the last three seasons, in the spring due to a season-ending knee injury. However, they return 12 other seniors to go with three more returning starters from their sophomore and junior classes. The team was picked 11th in the Big Ten's preseason poll.
The Wolverines, who were picked fourth, are led by a trio of forwards in Reilly Martin, Ani Sarkisian and Nicky Waldeck. Michigan returns 17 letterwinners from last year's 12-7-2 team, including seven starters. However, they've been hit by the injury bug too as defender Taylor Timko, who tied for the team lead in points (17) a year ago, will also miss the season due to a spring knee injury.
Marshall is coming off a historic 2015 campaign, in which the team made its first appearance in the Conference USA Championship game. The second-seeded Herd defeated Louisiana Tech and Old Dominion before falling to North Texas. Marshall returns Sydney Arnold, Ashley Seltzer, Jordan Parkhurst, Jayne Lawman, Katie Suchodolski, Mack Moore and Kayla Byrnside from last year's team who scored at least one goal.
Arnold was named to the 2016 preseason All-Conference USA team. Last season, Arnold led the Herd in points (23) with nine goals and five assists, good for fourth place in Marshall history. The Stafford, Va., native was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week twice, and her nine goals tied for second place all-time for the program. She had four game-winners a year ago and three multi-goal matches.
The Herd welcomed 11 freshmen to the roster this season - defender Metz Gonzalez, forward Jordan Sackaris, midfielder Chloe Smith, defender Ally Kimbler, forward Rebekah Cook, forward Alyssa Totzke, midfielder Marah Abu-Tayeh, midfielder Karen Rogge, midfielder Gabby Powers, defender Farah Abu-Tayeh and goalkeeper Megan Bonelli.
