Marshall University Athletics
Friday, November 9
Charlotte
4:30 PM
Marshall University
vs
University of Kentucky
No. 5 Seed Men’s Soccer Prepares to Face No. 1 Seed Kentucky in Semifinal
11/8/2018 1:23:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Herd in semifinal round for second consecutive season
Live Stats
Live Video – ESPN+
CHARLOTTE – The Marshall men's soccer team has advanced to the semifinal round in the Conference USA Championship Tournament for the second consecutive season, and will face the No. 1 seed Kentucky Wildcats. Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 4:30 p.m.
The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Thundering Herd faced Kentucky on Oct. 13, and lost 1-0 in double overtime. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Paulo Pita recorded a season-high 14 saves. In 2017, Marshall defeated the Wildcats 1-0 at home (Oct. 14) and then upset UK in the first round of the Conference USA Championship Tournament, also 1-0. In the tournament, Kentucky was the No. 3 seed and Marshall was the No. 6 seed.
"We're going to need a very cohesive performance," Herd head coach Chris Grassie said. "Obviously missing Illal (Osmanu) at the back makes us have to adjust. But, if we fight together and think together, we will be fine. Kentucky is having a great season, and is rightly a top five team in the country. We will require all 11 guys on the pitch to work together if we are to win.
"But, the guys are confident. We've worked on the plan, and we can make it happen. Everyone loves an underdog story, so hopefully we have the bite."
Marshall defeated No. 4 seed FIU, 2-1, Wednesday in the first round. Sophomore JP Rylah scored this first goal of the match for the Herd and then assisted on the game-winner, scored by junior Illal Osmanu, in the 83rd minute. Pita finished the match with seven saves.
Kentucky enters the match as the No. 1 seed in the tournament and third ranked team in the country at 15-1-1 overall. The Wildcats only loss was against FIU (3-2) back on Oct. 7. UK sports the Offensive MVP and Player of the Year in J.J. Williams who finished the season with 14 goals, six assists, 34 total points and seven game-winners. Forward Jason Reyes was voted Freshman of the Year and head coach Johan Cedergren was honored as Coach of the Year.
The Wildcats have outscored the opposition 40-8 during the season. Goalkeeper Enrique Facusse has 49 saves, a .860 save percentage and holds a mere 0.46 goals against average. The Kentucky defense finished the regular season with 12 shutouts.
The winner of the match moves on to the Conference USA Championship match on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.
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!
Live Video – ESPN+
CHARLOTTE – The Marshall men's soccer team has advanced to the semifinal round in the Conference USA Championship Tournament for the second consecutive season, and will face the No. 1 seed Kentucky Wildcats. Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 4:30 p.m.
The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Thundering Herd faced Kentucky on Oct. 13, and lost 1-0 in double overtime. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Paulo Pita recorded a season-high 14 saves. In 2017, Marshall defeated the Wildcats 1-0 at home (Oct. 14) and then upset UK in the first round of the Conference USA Championship Tournament, also 1-0. In the tournament, Kentucky was the No. 3 seed and Marshall was the No. 6 seed.
"We're going to need a very cohesive performance," Herd head coach Chris Grassie said. "Obviously missing Illal (Osmanu) at the back makes us have to adjust. But, if we fight together and think together, we will be fine. Kentucky is having a great season, and is rightly a top five team in the country. We will require all 11 guys on the pitch to work together if we are to win.
"But, the guys are confident. We've worked on the plan, and we can make it happen. Everyone loves an underdog story, so hopefully we have the bite."
Marshall defeated No. 4 seed FIU, 2-1, Wednesday in the first round. Sophomore JP Rylah scored this first goal of the match for the Herd and then assisted on the game-winner, scored by junior Illal Osmanu, in the 83rd minute. Pita finished the match with seven saves.
Kentucky enters the match as the No. 1 seed in the tournament and third ranked team in the country at 15-1-1 overall. The Wildcats only loss was against FIU (3-2) back on Oct. 7. UK sports the Offensive MVP and Player of the Year in J.J. Williams who finished the season with 14 goals, six assists, 34 total points and seven game-winners. Forward Jason Reyes was voted Freshman of the Year and head coach Johan Cedergren was honored as Coach of the Year.
The Wildcats have outscored the opposition 40-8 during the season. Goalkeeper Enrique Facusse has 49 saves, a .860 save percentage and holds a mere 0.46 goals against average. The Kentucky defense finished the regular season with 12 shutouts.
The winner of the match moves on to the Conference USA Championship match on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.
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---
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