Marshall University Athletics
Knight with Hat Trick in @HerdMSoccer Exhibition Win
8/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Box Score (PDF)
RADFORD, Va. ââ'¬" The Marshall men's soccer team lit up the scoreboard in exhibition action as the Thundering Herd defeated the Radford Highlanders 5-1 on Tuesday. Freshman Lewis Knight put up the hat trick and senior Adi Dakwar scored two goals in the win.
"In preseason it's good to see the team come out and perform that well," Herd coach Chris Grassie said. "Radford had their game plan going in the beginning and we had to make our adjustments to get back on the attacking end.
"The second half was much better as we were able to control the ball and the pitch and we were able to press them."
Marshall scored first as Knight knocked in his first goal of the evening in the 10th minute from the left side. The Highlanders came back and tied the game at the 15-minute mark. The match remained locked at 1-1 through the rest of the first half.
The second half was a different story. Just one minute and 39 seconds into the action, Knight scored his second goal after intercepting a pass from Radford's keeper. Less than nine minutes later, the freshman fired in his third goal on an assist from senior Brayan Lopez-Mendez.
The scoring did not stop there as Dakwar chipped in with two goals. The first came in the 67th minute and then again with just over five minutes remaining in the match.
Senior Nate Himes started the game in goal for Marshall and finished with one save and the lone Radford goal allowed. Freshman Kyle Winquist played the second half and recorded one save. The Herd outshot Radford 13-9 and 9-3 in shots on goal. Knight had five shots on goal and Dakwar had three.
"Knight plays mainly in the midfield but that doesn't mean that he doesn't have a great nose for the goal and he showed that today," coach Grassie stated. "I was very pleased with Kyle (Winquist). I felt he was very poised out there in goal in the second half."
Marshall travels to Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Aug. 19, for its final exhibition match. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The 2017 regular season begins Friday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m., as Marshall welcomes UNC Asheville to Hoops Family Field.
