Marshall University Athletics
@HerdMSoccer Begins Exhibition Play Tuesday at Radford
8/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Men's Soccer 2017 Schedule
RADFORD, Va. - The Marshall men's soccer team will begin exhibition play for the 2017 season Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Radford. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m., from Patrick D. Cupp Memorial Stadium.
Tuesday will also be the debut on the sideline for head coach Chris Grassie as he begins his first season at the helm for Marshall. Grassie served as a graduate assistant for the Herd from 2004-06. He has spent the past six seasons leading the University of Charleston to 99 wins and two Division II National Championship runner-up finishes.
We are excited to get our first taste of a real match tonight," coach Grassie said. "I think it's a universal for coaches around the country, that we love the first opportunity to play against outside competition, as it will give us a real test of where we are as a team.
"We've been working hard on our tactics and shape in training, so this will be a good test of that, to see where the lads are. After the match, it will be good to see what deficiencies we need to address as well.
The Herd finished the 2016 season 6-11-1. Marshall returns 13 players from the previous season and welcomes 14 newcomers. The Herd was picked to finish eighth in the preseason Conference USA poll.
"We have some talented new players on the squad this season," coach Grassie said. "So it will be important to see how they gel with the players who did well for us last spring. Of course, it's preseason, so we are also looking for match fitness levels, the spirit of the team, and trying out one or two new ideas, the result isn't that important at all…As long as we play well and compete with quality and intensity."
Radford won the Big South Championship in 2016, earning a second-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Highlanders finished the year 14-4-2. Senior defender Fraser Colmer was selected as the Co-Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Marshall will finish exhibition play Saturday, Aug. 19, at Coastal Carolina. The 2017 regular season kicks off on Friday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m., at Hoops Family Field against UNC Asheville.
