Marshall University Athletics
Saturday, September 25
Huntington, W.Va.
7:00 PM
Marshall University
vs
University of Kentucky
Photo by: Adam Gue
No. 5 Men’s Soccer Set to Host No. 10 Kentucky
9/24/2021 12:39:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Herd’s longest running series with 44th all-time meeting
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The 5th-ranked Marshall men's soccer team takes on No. 10 Kentucky at Hoops Family Field on Saturday at 7 p.m. The series with the Wildcats is the longest running in the Herd's history with Saturday being the 44th all-time meeting.
The Thundering Herd enter the match at 4-1-2 overall and 0-0-1 in Conference USA play. Kentucky comes to Huntington at 5-0-1 overall, and also 0-0-1 in league action. This will be Marshall's seventh match of the season against an opponent either ranked or receiving votes at kickoff.
Match Details
Marshall Men's Soccer Stat Packet (PDF)
Live Stats: HERDZONE
Live Stream: ESPN+ with Jake Griffith
Marshall Radio: 88.1 WMUL-FM and online www.marshall.edu/wmul
Series History: 43 all-time meetings – Kentucky leads 21-19-3, Marshall has won the last three and five of the last seven.
Last Meeting: March 18, 2021 – Marshall won 1-0 in Lexington, Vinicius Fernandes scored in the 62nd minute. Saturday will be the fourth time that Marshall and UK have met with both teams being ranked in the top 25.
The Herd is coming off a 2-0 victory over No. 20 Akron on Tuesday. Marshall's leading goal-scorers in seniors Vinicius Fernandes (five) and Vitor Dias (four) both scored for the Herd in the victory. The win was Marshall's second clean sheet of the season and first for senior goalkeeper Oliver Semmle.
The Herd's next victory will be head coach Chris Grassie's 50th with Marshall. Grassie is 49-25-12, now in his fifth season in Huntington. His all-time coaching record stands at 148-45-20. He had 99 wins in his tenure at the University of Charleston.
Fernandes, Dias and fifth-year senior Pedro Dolabella rank first, second and third respectively in C-USA in scoring. Fernandes has put up career-highs this season with five goals, four assists and 36 points. Fernandes is ninth in the NCAA in total points. Dias is well on track to surpass his scoring output from last season with his four goals, five assists and 13 points. Last year, Dias put up six goals, seven assists and 19 points. His five assists in the fall of 2021 are fourth in the NCAA.
Dolabella has contributed to the Herd's scoring in every match this season except for the loss to No. 15 Virginia Tech. Dolabella assisted on a goal at No. 21 JMU, then began his current scoring streak of five-straight matches with an assist against Coastal Carolina. He had a goal and an assist at ETSU, goal at Bowling Green, goal versus No. 4 WVU and then assisted on the Herd's first goal against Akron. The Brasilia, Brazil native has 16 goals in his career, good for 12th all-time in program history. His 14 career assists are tied for ninth and his 46 points are tied for 10th.
Marshall has been very adept at passing the ball around and opening scoring chances. The Herd leads C-USA and is third in the NCAA in assists per match with 3.00. Marshall has 21 total assists, also good for third in the NCAA, on 20 goals which ranks fifth in the nation. Eight different players have at least two assists this season.
Following the match against Kentucky, the Herd has one more home match before going back out on the road. Marshall plays Butler on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at Hoops Family Field.
The Opponent
The Wildcats and the Herd have something in common this season as both have begun C-USA play with a tie against new league member Coastal Carolina. Kentucky opened the 2021 season with a scoreless draw down in Conway, S.C. Since then, the Wildcats have won five-straight over Wright State (3-0), Notre Dame (1-0), Louisville (3-1), Duquesne (3-1) and Western Michigan (1-0), outscoring the opposition 11-2. UK has put up at least three goals in three matches and have four clean sheets.
Eythor Bjorgolfsson leads the team in scoring with three goals, one assist and seven total points. Luke Andrews has two goals and one assist as well. Five other players have scored one goal apiece. Luis Grassow, Robert Screen and Martin Soereide are all tied for the team lead in assists with two each. Kentucky has outshot the competition 92-53 as well as 38-14 on goal.
Jan Hoffelner has been the main one in goal, playing 460 total minutes across five matches. Hoffelner has allowed just one goal, a 0.20 goals against average, 10 saves and has a .909 save percentage. Ryan Troutman played the entire match in the net in the win over Duquesne. He allowed one goal and made two saves.
Head coach Johan Cedergren is in his 10th season leading Kentucky. His record is 107-53-25 and has had the Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons and six times total in his tenure.
Following the match in Huntington, the Wildcats stay on the road for a contest at Dayton on Wednesday, Sept. 29.
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!
The Thundering Herd enter the match at 4-1-2 overall and 0-0-1 in Conference USA play. Kentucky comes to Huntington at 5-0-1 overall, and also 0-0-1 in league action. This will be Marshall's seventh match of the season against an opponent either ranked or receiving votes at kickoff.
Match Details
Marshall Men's Soccer Stat Packet (PDF)
Live Stats: HERDZONE
Live Stream: ESPN+ with Jake Griffith
Marshall Radio: 88.1 WMUL-FM and online www.marshall.edu/wmul
Series History: 43 all-time meetings – Kentucky leads 21-19-3, Marshall has won the last three and five of the last seven.
Last Meeting: March 18, 2021 – Marshall won 1-0 in Lexington, Vinicius Fernandes scored in the 62nd minute. Saturday will be the fourth time that Marshall and UK have met with both teams being ranked in the top 25.
The Herd is coming off a 2-0 victory over No. 20 Akron on Tuesday. Marshall's leading goal-scorers in seniors Vinicius Fernandes (five) and Vitor Dias (four) both scored for the Herd in the victory. The win was Marshall's second clean sheet of the season and first for senior goalkeeper Oliver Semmle.
The Herd's next victory will be head coach Chris Grassie's 50th with Marshall. Grassie is 49-25-12, now in his fifth season in Huntington. His all-time coaching record stands at 148-45-20. He had 99 wins in his tenure at the University of Charleston.
Fernandes, Dias and fifth-year senior Pedro Dolabella rank first, second and third respectively in C-USA in scoring. Fernandes has put up career-highs this season with five goals, four assists and 36 points. Fernandes is ninth in the NCAA in total points. Dias is well on track to surpass his scoring output from last season with his four goals, five assists and 13 points. Last year, Dias put up six goals, seven assists and 19 points. His five assists in the fall of 2021 are fourth in the NCAA.
Dolabella has contributed to the Herd's scoring in every match this season except for the loss to No. 15 Virginia Tech. Dolabella assisted on a goal at No. 21 JMU, then began his current scoring streak of five-straight matches with an assist against Coastal Carolina. He had a goal and an assist at ETSU, goal at Bowling Green, goal versus No. 4 WVU and then assisted on the Herd's first goal against Akron. The Brasilia, Brazil native has 16 goals in his career, good for 12th all-time in program history. His 14 career assists are tied for ninth and his 46 points are tied for 10th.
Marshall has been very adept at passing the ball around and opening scoring chances. The Herd leads C-USA and is third in the NCAA in assists per match with 3.00. Marshall has 21 total assists, also good for third in the NCAA, on 20 goals which ranks fifth in the nation. Eight different players have at least two assists this season.
Following the match against Kentucky, the Herd has one more home match before going back out on the road. Marshall plays Butler on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at Hoops Family Field.
The Opponent
The Wildcats and the Herd have something in common this season as both have begun C-USA play with a tie against new league member Coastal Carolina. Kentucky opened the 2021 season with a scoreless draw down in Conway, S.C. Since then, the Wildcats have won five-straight over Wright State (3-0), Notre Dame (1-0), Louisville (3-1), Duquesne (3-1) and Western Michigan (1-0), outscoring the opposition 11-2. UK has put up at least three goals in three matches and have four clean sheets.
Eythor Bjorgolfsson leads the team in scoring with three goals, one assist and seven total points. Luke Andrews has two goals and one assist as well. Five other players have scored one goal apiece. Luis Grassow, Robert Screen and Martin Soereide are all tied for the team lead in assists with two each. Kentucky has outshot the competition 92-53 as well as 38-14 on goal.
Jan Hoffelner has been the main one in goal, playing 460 total minutes across five matches. Hoffelner has allowed just one goal, a 0.20 goals against average, 10 saves and has a .909 save percentage. Ryan Troutman played the entire match in the net in the win over Duquesne. He allowed one goal and made two saves.
Head coach Johan Cedergren is in his 10th season leading Kentucky. His record is 107-53-25 and has had the Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons and six times total in his tenure.
Following the match in Huntington, the Wildcats stay on the road for a contest at Dayton on Wednesday, Sept. 29.
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!
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