Marshall University Athletics

Photo by: Austin O Connor
Silva Notches Career Game in No. 11 Herd’s Shutout over Wright State
8/28/2023 10:36:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Sophomore tallies first career goal, hat trick and assist in win
Box Score (PDF) | Grassie Postgame | Championship Fund
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The No. 11 Marshall University men's soccer team (2-0) carried its momentum from the season opener into a 5-0 blanking of the Wright State Raiders (0-1-1) on Monday night at Hoops Family Field. Marco Silva was the star of the match, tallying his first career goal, hat trick and assist just 35:30 into the first half.
"We talked at halftime about not letting them have any shots, never mind any goals, to keep the shutout," Herd men's soccer head coach Chris Grassie said about his backline after the match. "We gave away a silly ball and they had a great chance, but Gabe (Perrotta) made an unbelievable save. He has great reflexes. Defensively they did a great job, but we can improve on the ball."
After Alvaro Garcia-Pascual saw a penalty kick saved in the second minute, Takahiro Fujita sent a lob pass to Silva down the right wing in the 18th minute. Silva then sped by the Raider defender and found the back of the net to give the Herd a 1-0 lead.
"I saw the space in front of me and I have a little quickness in me, so I tried to push it," Silva said about his first goal. "I took the space I saw and cut inside. I got a little ahead of myself, but I reached and got the finish."
Seven minutes later, MU struck twice in less than a minute. At the 25:48 mark, Silva found Matthew Bell for his fourth goal of the season followed by a cross from Theo Godard finding Silva, who sent the ball into the goal 29 seconds later for his second of the contest to make it 3-0.
Silva's hot boots continued into the 36th minute as he took a pass from Garcia-Pascual and scored his third goal of the contest on Garcia-Pascual's third helper of the year.
"It was a magical feeling," Silva said about his hat trick. "Matthew in the first game, he's a great player, my best friend and roommate. To see him have his moment and then this for me, I'm sure he's happy for me."
Garcia-Pascual then scored his first goal for the Herd in the 70th minute with his fourth shot on goal of contest. Aymane Sordo sent in the pass to assist the junior on his goal.
Goalkeeper Gabriel Perrotta stopped his first shot of the season at the 78:14 mark tipping a Wright State shot over the crossbar.
NEXT UP
Marshall looks to continue its hot streak in its final contest of a three-game homestand as it hosts Xavier on Friday at 7:15 p.m.
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. 11 Marshall University men's soccer team (2-0) carried its momentum from the season opener into a 5-0 blanking of the Wright State Raiders (0-1-1) on Monday night at Hoops Family Field. Marco Silva was the star of the match, tallying his first career goal, hat trick and assist just 35:30 into the first half.
"We talked at halftime about not letting them have any shots, never mind any goals, to keep the shutout," Herd men's soccer head coach Chris Grassie said about his backline after the match. "We gave away a silly ball and they had a great chance, but Gabe (Perrotta) made an unbelievable save. He has great reflexes. Defensively they did a great job, but we can improve on the ball."
After Alvaro Garcia-Pascual saw a penalty kick saved in the second minute, Takahiro Fujita sent a lob pass to Silva down the right wing in the 18th minute. Silva then sped by the Raider defender and found the back of the net to give the Herd a 1-0 lead.
"I saw the space in front of me and I have a little quickness in me, so I tried to push it," Silva said about his first goal. "I took the space I saw and cut inside. I got a little ahead of myself, but I reached and got the finish."
Seven minutes later, MU struck twice in less than a minute. At the 25:48 mark, Silva found Matthew Bell for his fourth goal of the season followed by a cross from Theo Godard finding Silva, who sent the ball into the goal 29 seconds later for his second of the contest to make it 3-0.
Silva's hot boots continued into the 36th minute as he took a pass from Garcia-Pascual and scored his third goal of the contest on Garcia-Pascual's third helper of the year.
"It was a magical feeling," Silva said about his hat trick. "Matthew in the first game, he's a great player, my best friend and roommate. To see him have his moment and then this for me, I'm sure he's happy for me."
Garcia-Pascual then scored his first goal for the Herd in the 70th minute with his fourth shot on goal of contest. Aymane Sordo sent in the pass to assist the junior on his goal.
Goalkeeper Gabriel Perrotta stopped his first shot of the season at the 78:14 mark tipping a Wright State shot over the crossbar.
NEXT UP
Marshall looks to continue its hot streak in its final contest of a three-game homestand as it hosts Xavier on Friday at 7:15 p.m.
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
WSU
MAR
Goals
0
5
Shots
9
22
Shots on Goal
2
11
Saves
6
2
Corners
2
8
Fouls
12
11
Scoring Plays

Marco Silva (3)
Assisted By: Takahiro Fujita
GOAL by MAR Silva, Marco Assist by Fujita, Takahiro.
18:39

Matthew Bell (4)
Assisted By: Marco Silva
GOAL by MAR Bell, Matthew Assist by Silva, Marco.
25:48

Marco Silva (3)
Assisted By: Theo Godard
GOAL by MAR Silva, Marco Assist by Godard, Theo.
26:17

Marco Silva (3)
Assisted By: Alvaro Garcia-Pascual
GOAL by MAR Silva, Marco Assist by Garcia-Pascual, Alvaro.
35:30

Alvaro Garcia-Pascual (1)
Assisted By: Aymane Sordo
GOAL by MAR Garcia-Pascual, Alvaro Assist by Sordo, Aymane.
69:11
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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