MarshallƵs Taimu Okiyoshi (8) battles for control of the ball with James MadisonƵs Milo Wray (5) on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, at Hoops Family Field in Huntington.
MarshallƵs Taimu Okiyoshi (8) battles for control of the ball with James MadisonƵs Milo Wray (5) on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, at Hoops Family Field in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON Ƶ For the second consecutive year, the Sun Belt menƵs soccer tournament championship will be awarded to a team from West Virginia. But how far north or south that school lies is to be determined.
SundayƵs championship is set to be played at the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown between the same two teams that played for a title last year in Huntington.
Marshall got the best of ƵU in that matchup before losing in the third round of the NCAA tournament. The Mountaineers advanced all the way to the College Cup in Cary, North Carolina before their season came to an end.
But Thundering Herd coach Chris Grassie is as worried about what happened last season as what happened last week, when the Mountaineers claimed the Sun Belt regular season title in a scoreless draw at Marshall.
ƵWe played so well, probably our best game in the season to that point, against ƵU, but we didnƵt get the win, but now we get a redo,Ƶ Grassie said after the HerdƵs win over James Madison in the semifinals. ƵLife doesnƵt give you that very often, so we have to really sort of take that moment and realize how special it is and put that extra effort in, because we get to right a wrong.Ƶ
The Herd beat Old Dominion 3-2 in the quarterfinals and used a goal from Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos to eliminate James Madison in the semifinal round.
Dos Santos was awarded the goal after Marshall appealed the scorerƵs ruling of a Dukes own goal on his shot, which was on target before it hit off the arm of goalkeeper Sebestian Conlon and caromed into the back of the net.
It was his team-leading 10th goal of the season and his fourth game-winner in his first season with the Thundering Herd after transferring from Memphis. MarshallƵs next highest goal-scorer has four.
ƵThatƵs why IƵm here, to win titles, and thatƵs the reason I transferred and I chose Marshall,Ƶ dos Santos said. ƵI feel like IƵm at the right place to help do that again.Ƶ
The Herd generated 10 shots in the win, but MarshallƵs defensive performance truly kept it in contention. The Herd held a James Madison squad that averaged 11.8 shots per game entering the match to just two, even while playing a man down for the final 30 minutes after Rai Pinto was shown a red card.
ƵAlex Bamford played his best (defensive) game of the season against ƵU and has just been better and better every game since,Ƶ Grassie said. ƵYou know, guys have really stepped up, like Theo Goddard. HeƵs just such a good one-on-one defender. (Goalkeeper) Alexsa (Janjic) was tremendous tonight. ItƵs such a tight competition between him and Dan (Rose). All of the guys. I mean, I canƵt sing their praises enough.Ƶ
Marshall is seeking its second conference tournament championship since joining the SBC in 2022. After being eliminated in the quarterfinals by James Madison the first year, the Herd has now reached the final in two straight seasons and will once again face the Mountaineers.
ƵI mean, for me, theyƵre just like another team, you know? We know itƵs gonna be a battle,Ƶ dos Santos said of ƵU. ƵIƵm excited to go play there because IƵve never played and I heard some stuff about it, so you know, IƵm just excited and looking forward to it.Ƶ
Luke Creasy is a sports reporter for HD Media. He can be reached by phone at 304-526-2800.
