Marshall University Athletics
Friday, September 7
Huntington, W.Va
7:00 PM
Marshall University
vs
Florida International University
Photo by: Ben Powell
Men’s Soccer Welcomes Defending Regular Season C-USA Champions FIU
9/6/2018 4:28:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Kickoff from Hoops Family Field Friday at 7 p.m.
Live Stats
HerdVision on CUSAtv
Marshall Radio
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall men's soccer team returns to Hoops Family Field to begin Conference USA action against the defending regular season conference champions the FIU Panthers. Kickoff is set for Friday at 7 p.m.
The Thundering Herd enter the match at 2-1-1 and FIU is 0-3-0.
Fans who cannot attend the match can tune in through HerdVision on C-USAtv, as Jake Griffith will have the call, as well as on 88-1 WMUL-FM on-air and online at www.marshall.edu/wmul through one of the Listen Live links.
"What an exciting match coming up," Herd second-year head coach Chris Grassie said. "I can tell you it will be a great game of soccer. Two teams that like to control the ball, so it should be an excellent spectacle.
"FIU's record isn't a true reflection of their talent or how they've actually played in their matches this season. They are the reigning CUSA champs, and I can tell you our guys are really excited to show what they can do against them."
Marshall defeated Ohio State 1-0 on Aug. 31 and then played to a scoreless draw with Dayton on Sept. 3. The Herd defense has earned three shutouts so far this season, the first coming in the season-opener against Duquesne, 1-0.
"After last weekend's back to back shutouts, we feel like we are beginning to gel really well, and it's only a matter of time before we explode for plenty of goals in a match," coach Grassie added.
Four different players have scored a goal for the Herd and junior Jonas Westmeyer leads with two assists and four points. Redshirt junior keeper Paulo Pita has played all 380 minutes in net and has recorded 13 saves while allowing just three goals. Pita has an .813 save percentage and a 0.71 goals against average. Along with Pita, senior defender Chris Taibi is the only other player to not miss a minute this season.
FIU has started 2018 with losses to Duke (3-1), Elon (3-0) and Stetson (3-2). The Panthers were selected tops in the preseason C-USA poll and feature one of the best players in the conference in senior forward Santiago Patino. Patino was the conference Offensive Player of the Year, the C-USA Player of the Year and recipient of the Golden Boot Award after scoring 15 goals along with five assists in 2017. The senior was selected as the preseason player of the year.
So far this season Patino, junior Joris Ahlinvi and senior Nick O'Callaghan all have one goal each. Senior Hugo Fauroux is back in the net for the Panthers and has recorded 10 saves and allowed nine goals.
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!
HerdVision on CUSAtv
Marshall Radio
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall men's soccer team returns to Hoops Family Field to begin Conference USA action against the defending regular season conference champions the FIU Panthers. Kickoff is set for Friday at 7 p.m.
The Thundering Herd enter the match at 2-1-1 and FIU is 0-3-0.
Fans who cannot attend the match can tune in through HerdVision on C-USAtv, as Jake Griffith will have the call, as well as on 88-1 WMUL-FM on-air and online at www.marshall.edu/wmul through one of the Listen Live links.
"What an exciting match coming up," Herd second-year head coach Chris Grassie said. "I can tell you it will be a great game of soccer. Two teams that like to control the ball, so it should be an excellent spectacle.
"FIU's record isn't a true reflection of their talent or how they've actually played in their matches this season. They are the reigning CUSA champs, and I can tell you our guys are really excited to show what they can do against them."
Marshall defeated Ohio State 1-0 on Aug. 31 and then played to a scoreless draw with Dayton on Sept. 3. The Herd defense has earned three shutouts so far this season, the first coming in the season-opener against Duquesne, 1-0.
"After last weekend's back to back shutouts, we feel like we are beginning to gel really well, and it's only a matter of time before we explode for plenty of goals in a match," coach Grassie added.
Four different players have scored a goal for the Herd and junior Jonas Westmeyer leads with two assists and four points. Redshirt junior keeper Paulo Pita has played all 380 minutes in net and has recorded 13 saves while allowing just three goals. Pita has an .813 save percentage and a 0.71 goals against average. Along with Pita, senior defender Chris Taibi is the only other player to not miss a minute this season.
FIU has started 2018 with losses to Duke (3-1), Elon (3-0) and Stetson (3-2). The Panthers were selected tops in the preseason C-USA poll and feature one of the best players in the conference in senior forward Santiago Patino. Patino was the conference Offensive Player of the Year, the C-USA Player of the Year and recipient of the Golden Boot Award after scoring 15 goals along with five assists in 2017. The senior was selected as the preseason player of the year.
So far this season Patino, junior Joris Ahlinvi and senior Nick O'Callaghan all have one goal each. Senior Hugo Fauroux is back in the net for the Panthers and has recorded 10 saves and allowed nine goals.
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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