Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Morehead State
Women’s Soccer Kicks Off 2026 Campaign at Home against Morehead State
8/12/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Watch | Live Stats | @HerdWSoccer
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The first official contest of the 2026-27 Marshall Athletics season takes place Thursday evening at 7 p.m. at Hoops Family Field when the Herd Women's Soccer team hosts Morehead State.
Tickets
Marshall Women's Soccer Season Tickets
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Listen: 88.1 WMUL
X: @HerdWSoccer
COACH RAFA SIMOES
- Head Coach Rafa Simoes is in his third season leading the MU Women's Soccer program. The former associate with the Herd men's team is a 2018 graduate of the University of Charleston in West Virginia, where he played for then-head coach Chris Grassie.
- Simoes and the Herd had a resurgent 2025 season. In his second year as skipper for MU, Simoes led the team to win its most games in a decade with four All-Conference selections, also the program's most since 2015.
PRE-MATCH NOTES
- The Herd welcomes 15 newcomers to its roster in 2026. Marshall returns 13 players, including graduate senior Bailey Fisher, who enters the season tied for 3rd in program history with 19 career goals. The 2025 SBC All-Conference Second Team member is eligible for her fifth season of competition.
- A team full of international flair, Marshall's 2026 squad features players from 16 different countries, the most countries represented on a single team in program history.
- Marshall has been picked 6th in the SBC Preseason Poll. For the full preseason poll and awards, view HERE.
ABOUT THE EAGLES
- Morehead State is coming off a 3-13-2 season, its fewest victories in a season since 2017. The Eagles did hold its opponents scoreless over the final 382 minutes of last season. A strong core of the defense for MSU returns in 2026, including 2025 All-OVC Newcomer Team member Faith Pepper and senior defender Hannah Burke.
- Like Simoes, Head Coach Paul Cox enters his third season as the leader of the MSU program.
- Marshall leads the all-time series, 9-1-3. Thursday will mark the fourth-consecutive season the Herd and Eagles have opened the season against each other.
To donate to the Championship Fund for Marshall women's soccer, please click HERE. All proceeds go directly to the Marshall women's soccer team.
For all the latest information about Marshall women's soccer, follow @herdwsoccer 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.
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