Marshall University Athletics

Photo by: Ben Powell
Hat Trick by Bouzoukis Helps Lead Herd to Big Win on Senior Night
11/3/2018 10:43:00 PM | Men's Soccer
First hat trick for the Herd since 2009
Box Score (PDF)
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – There were plenty of fireworks for the Marshall men's soccer team on Senior Night in a 5-1 victory over the Florida Atlantic Owls, Saturday night at Hoops Family Field. Freshman Gianni Bouzoukis scored a hat trick and sophomore Jamil Roberts scored the other two goals.
The Thundering Herd finishes the 2018 regular season with an overall record of 7-8-3 and 3-3-2 in Conference USA. The Owls end the year at 2-13 and 1-6 in conference play.
Marshall is the five seed going into next week's Conference USA Championship Tournament, and will play the FIU Panthers (four seed) on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m., from Charlotte. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
"It is very rewarding to see our team score that much," Herd head coach Chris Grassie said. "We knew this was a game we could win and score some goals if we worked hard and took it seriously, especially with the way we started. We started with a really sloppy error, however accidents happen and I don't want to go into it much more than that.
"Once we got going on the front it was just a matter of how many we could then score. It was great to see and quite a relaxing night."
Florida Atlantic started off with a 1-0 lead just one minute into the contest on an own goal. However, the offensive barrage for Marshall got rolling after the mistake. Roberts knocked in his first goal of the night in the seventh minute on a pass from Bouzoukis.
Bouzoukis then got his historic night started with his first goal in the 29th minute on a pass from Roberts to give Marshall the 2-1 lead. The teams went in at the half with Marshall ahead by one.
In the second half, Bouzoukis came out firing again and scored his second goal of the night in the 53rd minute off a deflection. The Wellington, New Zealand, native then finished off his hat trick with another tap in off a deflection in the 75th minute.
Roberts put a cap on the night with his second goal, off yet another deflection around the net in the 83rd minute. Freshman Kelan Swales finished with two assists while freshman JP Rylah had one. Bouzoukis ends the regular season with a team-leading eight goals. Roberts is second on the team with five.
The hat trick by Bouzoukis was the first by a Marshall player since Dustin Dawes on Sept. 4, 2009, in a 4-1 victory at Belmont.
Prior to the match, the Herd's 2018 senior class was honored with Ben Martinez, Chris Taibi and John Pappas receiving the recognition. Taibi and Pappas both started the match and played all 90 minutes, while Martinez played the second half and recorded one save in the home finale.
"It has been a pleasure," coach Grassie said about his seniors. "Three really good seniors and we will be sad to see them go. We appreciate all they have done."
For all of the latest information on the Marshall men's soccer team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdMSoccer, Facebook at Marshall University Soccer and on www.herdzone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – There were plenty of fireworks for the Marshall men's soccer team on Senior Night in a 5-1 victory over the Florida Atlantic Owls, Saturday night at Hoops Family Field. Freshman Gianni Bouzoukis scored a hat trick and sophomore Jamil Roberts scored the other two goals.
The Thundering Herd finishes the 2018 regular season with an overall record of 7-8-3 and 3-3-2 in Conference USA. The Owls end the year at 2-13 and 1-6 in conference play.
Marshall is the five seed going into next week's Conference USA Championship Tournament, and will play the FIU Panthers (four seed) on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m., from Charlotte. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
"It is very rewarding to see our team score that much," Herd head coach Chris Grassie said. "We knew this was a game we could win and score some goals if we worked hard and took it seriously, especially with the way we started. We started with a really sloppy error, however accidents happen and I don't want to go into it much more than that.
"Once we got going on the front it was just a matter of how many we could then score. It was great to see and quite a relaxing night."
Florida Atlantic started off with a 1-0 lead just one minute into the contest on an own goal. However, the offensive barrage for Marshall got rolling after the mistake. Roberts knocked in his first goal of the night in the seventh minute on a pass from Bouzoukis.
Bouzoukis then got his historic night started with his first goal in the 29th minute on a pass from Roberts to give Marshall the 2-1 lead. The teams went in at the half with Marshall ahead by one.
In the second half, Bouzoukis came out firing again and scored his second goal of the night in the 53rd minute off a deflection. The Wellington, New Zealand, native then finished off his hat trick with another tap in off a deflection in the 75th minute.
Roberts put a cap on the night with his second goal, off yet another deflection around the net in the 83rd minute. Freshman Kelan Swales finished with two assists while freshman JP Rylah had one. Bouzoukis ends the regular season with a team-leading eight goals. Roberts is second on the team with five.
The hat trick by Bouzoukis was the first by a Marshall player since Dustin Dawes on Sept. 4, 2009, in a 4-1 victory at Belmont.
Prior to the match, the Herd's 2018 senior class was honored with Ben Martinez, Chris Taibi and John Pappas receiving the recognition. Taibi and Pappas both started the match and played all 90 minutes, while Martinez played the second half and recorded one save in the home finale.
"It has been a pleasure," coach Grassie said about his seniors. "Three really good seniors and we will be sad to see them go. We appreciate all they have done."
For all of the latest information on the Marshall men's soccer team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdMSoccer, Facebook at Marshall University Soccer and on www.herdzone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
---HerdZone.com---
Team Stats
FAU
MAR
Goals
1
5
Shots
10
27
Shots on Goal
3
9
Saves
4
2
Corners
1
7
Fouls
13
11
Scoring Plays

TEAM
GOAL by FAU OWN GOAL (FIRST GOAL).
1:00

ROBERTS, Jamil (4)
Assisted By: BOUZOUKIS, Gianni
Kicked in from left side beat keeper
6:44

BOUZOUKIS, Gianni (6)
Assisted By: ROBERTS, Jamil
One touch after pass from left side
28:11

BOUZOUKIS, Gianni (7)
Assisted By: RYLAH, JP
Knocked in off of deflection
52:40

BOUZOUKIS, Gianni (8)
Assisted By: SWALES, Kelan
tapped into deflection
74:15

ROBERTS, Jamil (5)
Assisted By: SWALES, Kelan
tapped in deflection
82:08
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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