Marshall University Athletics
Friday, November 15
Norfolk, Va.
4:30 p.m.
Marshall University
14-2-3
1
vs
0
No. 4 Seed Kentucky
13-4-3
1
2
F
Kentucky
0
0
0
Marshall
0
1
1
Marshall celebrates after Fernandes (No. 8) scored in the 77th minute.
No. 1 Men’s Soccer Advances to Conference USA Championship Match
11/15/2019 7:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Fernandes scores in the 77th minute
Box Score (PDF)
NORFOLK, Va. – The top-overall seed, and 13th-ranked Marshall men's soccer team defeated No. 4 seed, and 15th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats, 2-1, Friday night in the semi-final round of the Conference USA Tournament. Marshall advances to the Conference USA Tournament Championship Match, Sunday at 1 p.m. Sophomore Vinicius Fernandes scored the game-winner in the 77th minute.
It is Marshall's first C-USA Championship appearance since 2015.
The Thundering Herd improves to 14-2-3 while Kentucky falls to 12-4-3.
"The guys played very well and we were able to dictate play," third-year Herd head coach Chris Grassie said. "And we cleared out a lot of chances during the game so the goal was bound to come. The defense played really well especially in the midfield with Max (Schneider) and Carlos (Diaz-Salcedo) had his best game of the season. Looking forward to Sunday's match up and feeling really confident."
The teams battled through a scoreless first half as both sides were trying to gain control. Kentucky outshot the Herd 7-2 in the half, however neither team had a shot on goal. Junior Jamil Roberts and redshirt freshman Milo Yosef had the two shots for Marshall. The Wildcats had several opportunities with six corner kicks to the Herd's three, but the Herd defense stood tall and held off the attack.
The second half began the same way as the first half with the two familiar foes fighting for position and trying to push through. Marshall had a few chances early but could not quite find the back of the net to end the scoreless tie. Redshirt senior Paulo Pita recorded his lone save of the match on a shot from Bailey Rouse in the 75th minute.
One minute and 39 seconds later, the Herd broke open the scoreless affair. Roberts fired a cross from the far side that just eluded a diving Enrique Facusse, and Fernandes tapped it in for his second goal of the year. For Roberts it was his 10th assist of the season, tying a Marshall single-season record. Andy Zulauf (1981-85) set the mark in 1981 and Greg Ogle (1982-85) tied it one year later. The record was tied again by Shawn Sizemore (1990-93) in 1993.
Fernandes scored his fifth career goal and Roberts has 15 career assists. Roberts is in a four-way tie for fourth all-time in career assists in program history.
The Marshall defense continued a superb effort as the Wildcats kept up the pressure but yet could not find another shot on goal. Kentucky fired off 17 shots with eight on goal in the quarterfinal win over Florida Atlantic. Marshall held UK to 11 total shots and just one target.
The Herd now waits for the winner of No. 2 seed Charlotte and No. 3 seed FIU.
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!
NORFOLK, Va. – The top-overall seed, and 13th-ranked Marshall men's soccer team defeated No. 4 seed, and 15th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats, 2-1, Friday night in the semi-final round of the Conference USA Tournament. Marshall advances to the Conference USA Tournament Championship Match, Sunday at 1 p.m. Sophomore Vinicius Fernandes scored the game-winner in the 77th minute.
It is Marshall's first C-USA Championship appearance since 2015.
The Thundering Herd improves to 14-2-3 while Kentucky falls to 12-4-3.
"The guys played very well and we were able to dictate play," third-year Herd head coach Chris Grassie said. "And we cleared out a lot of chances during the game so the goal was bound to come. The defense played really well especially in the midfield with Max (Schneider) and Carlos (Diaz-Salcedo) had his best game of the season. Looking forward to Sunday's match up and feeling really confident."
The teams battled through a scoreless first half as both sides were trying to gain control. Kentucky outshot the Herd 7-2 in the half, however neither team had a shot on goal. Junior Jamil Roberts and redshirt freshman Milo Yosef had the two shots for Marshall. The Wildcats had several opportunities with six corner kicks to the Herd's three, but the Herd defense stood tall and held off the attack.
The second half began the same way as the first half with the two familiar foes fighting for position and trying to push through. Marshall had a few chances early but could not quite find the back of the net to end the scoreless tie. Redshirt senior Paulo Pita recorded his lone save of the match on a shot from Bailey Rouse in the 75th minute.
One minute and 39 seconds later, the Herd broke open the scoreless affair. Roberts fired a cross from the far side that just eluded a diving Enrique Facusse, and Fernandes tapped it in for his second goal of the year. For Roberts it was his 10th assist of the season, tying a Marshall single-season record. Andy Zulauf (1981-85) set the mark in 1981 and Greg Ogle (1982-85) tied it one year later. The record was tied again by Shawn Sizemore (1990-93) in 1993.
Fernandes scored his fifth career goal and Roberts has 15 career assists. Roberts is in a four-way tie for fourth all-time in career assists in program history.
The Marshall defense continued a superb effort as the Wildcats kept up the pressure but yet could not find another shot on goal. Kentucky fired off 17 shots with eight on goal in the quarterfinal win over Florida Atlantic. Marshall held UK to 11 total shots and just one target.
The Herd now waits for the winner of No. 2 seed Charlotte and No. 3 seed FIU.
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
UK
MAR
Goals
0
1
Shots
11
7
Shots on Goal
1
4
Saves
3
1
Corners
8
6
Fouls
5
2
Scoring Plays
FERNANDES, Vinicius
Assisted By: ROBERTS, Jamil
GOAL by MAR FERNANDES, Vinicius (FIRST GOAL), Assist by ROBERTS, Jamil.
76:08
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's SoccerF
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