Marshall University Athletics
Wednesday, November 8
Huntington, W.Va.
7:00 p.m.
Marshall University
16-2-0, 7-2-0
3
vs
0
Kentucky
7-7-4, 3-3-3
1
2
F
Kentucky
0
0
0
Marshall
0
3
3
Photo by: Austin O Connor
No. 1 Marshall Men’s Soccer Blanks Kentucky in 2023 SBC Semifinals
11/8/2023 11:48:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Mountain State Derby SBC Championship set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
Box Score (PDF) | Coach Grassie Postgame Interview | Championship Fund
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The No. 1 Marshall University Men's Soccer team (16-2) advanced to the 2023 Sun Belt Men's Soccer Championship with a 3-0 shutout of the (RV) Kentucky Wildcats (7-7-4) Wednesday night at Hoops Family Field.
The Herd's 11th shutout tied the program's single-season record set during the 2020-21 season. The victory also sets up a Mountain State Derby championship contest on Sunday against the No. 5 West Virginia Mountaineers in Huntington at Hoops Family Field.
"It was a fantastic performance from the guys, they stuck with the game plan," Herd men's soccer head coach Chris Grassie said about his team's performance after the match. "Kentucky had the best turnaround in the nation. They've been very strong the last eight, nine games. They pressed pretty hard, but we ended up finding the free man. From the middle of the first half, I think everything started to go our way."
After a scoreless first half, Alvaro Garcia-Pascual broke open the scoring just under four minutes into the second half. The Spanish junior picked off a Wildcat pass at midfield and bolted down the pitch. The forward then fired his shot past UK goalkeeper Casper Mols and into the right side of the goal for his sixth goal of the season and made it 1-0.
"We usually have one chance like that every game," Garcia-Pascual said about his opportunity on goal. "It's just one more goal. We won, that's all that matters."
Then in the 65th minute, the ball pinballed around in Kentucky's 18-yard box. After deflecting off a Kentucky defender, the ball landed at Joao Roberto's feet at the top of the box and the freshman fired it into the back of the net for his first goal of the season and doubled The Herd's lead.
Marshall wasn't done quite yet as Matthew Bell tallied his ninth goal of the season at the 86:28 mark on a cross from Rai Pinto. Bell registered his 29th point of the season, tying him for sixth most in a season in program history with Norman Dotch, who notched 29 in 1997.
Gabriel Perrotta was a stalwart in goal again making three saves to secure his 10th individual shutout of the season and bringing his total 10.5 this season, putting at seventh most in a career in program history.
NEXT UP
No. 1 Marshall prepares for the 2023 Sun Belt Championship against No. 5 WVU. The second Mountain State Derby of 2023 is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday at Hoops Family Field.
To donate to the Championship Fund for Marshall men's soccer, please click HERE. All proceeds go directly to the Marshall men's soccer team.
For all the latest information about Marshall men's soccer, follow @herdmsoccer on Twitter and Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The No. 1 Marshall University Men's Soccer team (16-2) advanced to the 2023 Sun Belt Men's Soccer Championship with a 3-0 shutout of the (RV) Kentucky Wildcats (7-7-4) Wednesday night at Hoops Family Field.
The Herd's 11th shutout tied the program's single-season record set during the 2020-21 season. The victory also sets up a Mountain State Derby championship contest on Sunday against the No. 5 West Virginia Mountaineers in Huntington at Hoops Family Field.
"It was a fantastic performance from the guys, they stuck with the game plan," Herd men's soccer head coach Chris Grassie said about his team's performance after the match. "Kentucky had the best turnaround in the nation. They've been very strong the last eight, nine games. They pressed pretty hard, but we ended up finding the free man. From the middle of the first half, I think everything started to go our way."
After a scoreless first half, Alvaro Garcia-Pascual broke open the scoring just under four minutes into the second half. The Spanish junior picked off a Wildcat pass at midfield and bolted down the pitch. The forward then fired his shot past UK goalkeeper Casper Mols and into the right side of the goal for his sixth goal of the season and made it 1-0.
"We usually have one chance like that every game," Garcia-Pascual said about his opportunity on goal. "It's just one more goal. We won, that's all that matters."
Then in the 65th minute, the ball pinballed around in Kentucky's 18-yard box. After deflecting off a Kentucky defender, the ball landed at Joao Roberto's feet at the top of the box and the freshman fired it into the back of the net for his first goal of the season and doubled The Herd's lead.
Marshall wasn't done quite yet as Matthew Bell tallied his ninth goal of the season at the 86:28 mark on a cross from Rai Pinto. Bell registered his 29th point of the season, tying him for sixth most in a season in program history with Norman Dotch, who notched 29 in 1997.
Gabriel Perrotta was a stalwart in goal again making three saves to secure his 10th individual shutout of the season and bringing his total 10.5 this season, putting at seventh most in a career in program history.
NEXT UP
No. 1 Marshall prepares for the 2023 Sun Belt Championship against No. 5 WVU. The second Mountain State Derby of 2023 is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday at Hoops Family Field.
To donate to the Championship Fund for Marshall men's soccer, please click HERE. All proceeds go directly to the Marshall men's soccer team.
For all the latest information about Marshall men's soccer, follow @herdmsoccer on Twitter and Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
---HerdZone.com---
Team Stats
UK
MAR
Goals
0
3
Shots
12
12
Shots on Goal
3
7
Saves
4
3
Corners
7
2
Fouls
11
9
Scoring Plays
Alvaro Garcia-Pascual (6)
GOAL by MAR Garcia-Pascual, Alvaro.
48:40
Joao Roberto (1)
GOAL by MAR Roberto, Joao.
64:27
Matthew Bell (9)
Assisted By: Rai Pinto , Marco Silva
GOAL by MAR Bell, Matthew Assist by Pinto, Rai and Silva, Marco.
86:28
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
D
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