Marshall University Athletics
Sunday, November 17
Norfolk, Va.
1:00 PM
Marshall University
15-2-3
1
vs
0
No. 2 Seed Charlotte
11-3-4
1
2
3
4
F
Charlotte
0
0
0
0
0
Marshall
0
0
0
1
1
Paulo Pita (left) and Pedro Dolabella (rigth) embrace after the Championship win.
Photo by: Adam Gue
No. 1 Seed Men’s Soccer Champions of Conference USA
11/17/2019 5:07:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Dolabella with the golden goal in the second overtime
Box Score (PDF)
NORFOLK, Va. – The top-seed, and 13th-ranked, Marshall men's soccer team is the 2019 Conference USA Tournament Champions and receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Herd defeated the No. 2 seed, and 17th-ranked, Charlotte 49ers. 1-0 Sunday afternoon in the second overtime. Junior Pedro Dolabella scored the Golden Goal in the 103rd minute.
The Thundering Herd wins its first double – conference regular season and tournament championship – in program history. Marshall improved to 15-2-3, a record number of wins in a single-season in team history. The Charlotte 49ers lost its third-straight C-USA Championship match.
"I can't imagine an ending like this," Dolabella said after hitting the game-winner. "We've been overlooked and we proved again that we are the best team. Whatever happens we are the best. Everybody deserves it. Nobody works harder than we do. So for all the Marshall fans, everybody in Huntington, this is for you. We love you. We Are Marshall!"
Dolabella was named the Tournament Offensive MVP. Senior Carlos Diaz-Salcedo was named Tournament Defensive MVP. Also joining Dolabella and Diaz-Salcedo on the All-Tournament Team are sophomore Vinicius Fernandes and redshirt sophomore Collin Mocyunas.
The next step for the Herd is to find out where it will begin in the NCAA Tournament as Marshall could potentially host at least one match. This will be the first trip to the NCAA postseason in program history.
"I'm extremely pleased for our lads," third-year Herd head coach Chris Grassie said. "They were immense today. Charlotte is a very organized and difficult team to play again. And the strong wind made things very interesting, particularly in the first half. But we held strong and were brave enough to try and make the game.
"From the second half onwards there only looked like one winner! Pedro (Dolabella) was phenomenal today and thoroughly deserved the goal! It's great to win on a set piece. Paulo (Pita) was solid on net all day and came for every cross it seemed, so he took the pressure off. Carlos (Diaz-Salcedo) and Illal (Osmanu) were a wall and so comfortable on the ball. (Ryan) Sirk came on and did a great job for us. Collin (Mocyunas) was superb and didn't get beat once. Joao Pedro (Souza) was a real handful for them to deal with on the flank. Max (Schneider) was a beast today. Jonas (Westmeyer) and Vitor (Dias) did a great job in the midfield for us. Jamil (Roberts) and Milo (Yosef) were threatening all day long. Vini Fernandes was like Pedro, such a joy today. He (Fernandes) was unplayable with his skill and energy.
"We should definitely be seeded now, so we will look forward to another home match on Sunday. Let's see if we can break that home match attendance record for the second time this season! Go Herd!"
The match started right from the first whistle as a tough, physical battle between the top two seeds in the C-USA Tournament on a cold and very windy day. Charlotte dominated possession through the first 45 minutes and outshot Marshall 7-3 and 5-2 on goal. Redshirt senior keeper Paulo Pita recorded the save on all five shots to help keep the match scoreless. The 49ers thought it had grabbed the first goal in the 16th minute, but the flag came up for an offsides call on Charlotte on the near side of the field.
The Herd's two shots on goal in first half came from freshman Joao Souza and sophomore Vitor Dias.
In the second half, Marshall made the adjustment in the attack and put the pressure on the 49ers. As the Herd now played with the wind at its back, the squad outshot Charlotte 7-2 in the half with two on goal. Unfortunately for the Herd, Elliot Panicco made both saves. Pita who was worked in the first half needed to make just one save in the second frame. Dolabella and junior Jamil Roberts had the two shots on goal for Marshall.
Just like when the two teams met back on Oct. 12, 90 minutes was not enough as the zeros rolled up on the clock and the title match was still scoreless with the Golden Goal in effect. First to score wins.
The first overtime period continued as a physical battle. Marshall managed the only shot during the 10-minute extra frame as redshirt freshman Milo Yosef was wide. Again, 100 minutes was not enough time to decide the Championship match, and so it moved to double-overtime.
Marshall now playing with the wind in its face, much like the first half, kept up the strong play and the pressure on Charlotte. After a foul and a yellow card against Marshall, Pita jumped out to stop any further effort on the free kick and immediately got the ball headed downfield. Roberts tapped the ball to Yosef who battle toward the end line and the ball deflected off a 49er defender to grant the Herd a corner kick.
Senior Jonas Westmeyer, who has taken nearly 80 corner kicks in his two-year Marshall career, sent the shot from the far corner to the near side of the goal. Dolabella leaped and sent the header low, which bounced off Panicco's gloves and into the net. The celebration for the Herd ensued.
The NCAA Selection Show will be streamed live on the NCAA website on Monday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. The top 16 teams receive a first round bye and host a second round match. The first round is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 21. The second round is set for Sunday, Nov. 24.
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-seed, and 13th-ranked, Marshall men's soccer team is the 2019 Conference USA Tournament Champions and receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Herd defeated the No. 2 seed, and 17th-ranked, Charlotte 49ers. 1-0 Sunday afternoon in the second overtime. Junior Pedro Dolabella scored the Golden Goal in the 103rd minute.
The Thundering Herd wins its first double – conference regular season and tournament championship – in program history. Marshall improved to 15-2-3, a record number of wins in a single-season in team history. The Charlotte 49ers lost its third-straight C-USA Championship match.
"I can't imagine an ending like this," Dolabella said after hitting the game-winner. "We've been overlooked and we proved again that we are the best team. Whatever happens we are the best. Everybody deserves it. Nobody works harder than we do. So for all the Marshall fans, everybody in Huntington, this is for you. We love you. We Are Marshall!"
Dolabella was named the Tournament Offensive MVP. Senior Carlos Diaz-Salcedo was named Tournament Defensive MVP. Also joining Dolabella and Diaz-Salcedo on the All-Tournament Team are sophomore Vinicius Fernandes and redshirt sophomore Collin Mocyunas.
The next step for the Herd is to find out where it will begin in the NCAA Tournament as Marshall could potentially host at least one match. This will be the first trip to the NCAA postseason in program history.
"I'm extremely pleased for our lads," third-year Herd head coach Chris Grassie said. "They were immense today. Charlotte is a very organized and difficult team to play again. And the strong wind made things very interesting, particularly in the first half. But we held strong and were brave enough to try and make the game.
"From the second half onwards there only looked like one winner! Pedro (Dolabella) was phenomenal today and thoroughly deserved the goal! It's great to win on a set piece. Paulo (Pita) was solid on net all day and came for every cross it seemed, so he took the pressure off. Carlos (Diaz-Salcedo) and Illal (Osmanu) were a wall and so comfortable on the ball. (Ryan) Sirk came on and did a great job for us. Collin (Mocyunas) was superb and didn't get beat once. Joao Pedro (Souza) was a real handful for them to deal with on the flank. Max (Schneider) was a beast today. Jonas (Westmeyer) and Vitor (Dias) did a great job in the midfield for us. Jamil (Roberts) and Milo (Yosef) were threatening all day long. Vini Fernandes was like Pedro, such a joy today. He (Fernandes) was unplayable with his skill and energy.
"We should definitely be seeded now, so we will look forward to another home match on Sunday. Let's see if we can break that home match attendance record for the second time this season! Go Herd!"
The match started right from the first whistle as a tough, physical battle between the top two seeds in the C-USA Tournament on a cold and very windy day. Charlotte dominated possession through the first 45 minutes and outshot Marshall 7-3 and 5-2 on goal. Redshirt senior keeper Paulo Pita recorded the save on all five shots to help keep the match scoreless. The 49ers thought it had grabbed the first goal in the 16th minute, but the flag came up for an offsides call on Charlotte on the near side of the field.
The Herd's two shots on goal in first half came from freshman Joao Souza and sophomore Vitor Dias.
In the second half, Marshall made the adjustment in the attack and put the pressure on the 49ers. As the Herd now played with the wind at its back, the squad outshot Charlotte 7-2 in the half with two on goal. Unfortunately for the Herd, Elliot Panicco made both saves. Pita who was worked in the first half needed to make just one save in the second frame. Dolabella and junior Jamil Roberts had the two shots on goal for Marshall.
Just like when the two teams met back on Oct. 12, 90 minutes was not enough as the zeros rolled up on the clock and the title match was still scoreless with the Golden Goal in effect. First to score wins.
The first overtime period continued as a physical battle. Marshall managed the only shot during the 10-minute extra frame as redshirt freshman Milo Yosef was wide. Again, 100 minutes was not enough time to decide the Championship match, and so it moved to double-overtime.
Marshall now playing with the wind in its face, much like the first half, kept up the strong play and the pressure on Charlotte. After a foul and a yellow card against Marshall, Pita jumped out to stop any further effort on the free kick and immediately got the ball headed downfield. Roberts tapped the ball to Yosef who battle toward the end line and the ball deflected off a 49er defender to grant the Herd a corner kick.
Senior Jonas Westmeyer, who has taken nearly 80 corner kicks in his two-year Marshall career, sent the shot from the far corner to the near side of the goal. Dolabella leaped and sent the header low, which bounced off Panicco's gloves and into the net. The celebration for the Herd ensued.
The NCAA Selection Show will be streamed live on the NCAA website on Monday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. The top 16 teams receive a first round bye and host a second round match. The first round is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 21. The second round is set for Sunday, Nov. 24.
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
CHA
MAR
Goals
0
1
Shots
9
12
Shots on Goal
6
5
Saves
4
6
Corners
5
7
Fouls
18
11
Scoring Plays
Dolabella, Pedro (7)
Assisted By: WESTMEYER, Jonas
GOAL by MAR Dolabella, Pedro (FIRST GOAL), Assist by WESTMEYER, Jonas, goal number 7 for season.
102:25
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerD/MF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's SoccerF/MF
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerF
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