The Marshall University men’s soccer team was victorious over the Appalachian State University Mountaineers. This improves the Thundering Herd’s record to 3-2 overall.

“From a scheduling standpoint, we want to try to find teams that grind it out,” Marshall University coach Thomas Olivier said in the post-game conference. “They make us work and make us hustle, that make us battle going into conference. Eastern Illinois, today App state and High point before going into Birmingham next week.”

The first half was evenly matched. The Mountaineers dominated possession early, tallying multiple corner kicks early with solid attempts to score. But Thundering Herd goal keeper Trevor Clemens and the defensive backline kept the goal sealed off until the Thundering Herd offense found their stride.

After the slow start, Marshall found a series of attacks down the left side of the field as senior Daniel Jodah made a series of runs, putting pressure on the Mountaineer defense. But the quality for finishes was not enough to get by Appalachian State goal keeper Jake Chasteen. The rest of the half was mostly in the midfield as neither team could make solid attacks to bypass the other’s defenses.

The second half played out similar to the first with Appalachian State controlling a majority of the possession, but the Thundering Herd pounced on misplayed touches and was quick to counter attack.

In some back and forth touches between freshman Alex Reyes and senior Daniel Jodah, Reyes made a quick cut into the Appalachian State penalty box and Jodah played a pass perfectly past the defense, scoring the first goal of the game.

The Mountaineers responded, but the Marshall defensive line, in combination with defending midfielders, kept the area in front of Clemens mostly clean. While the Mountaineers enjoyed a good amount of possession, the defensive discipline for the Thundering Herd was on full display, as even forwards would drop back to aid in the defense.

“It was just a matter of finishing,” Appalachian State head coach Jason O’Keefe said. “I thought we had an opportunity early to take ahold of the game and we didn’t. And to them, they stuck with it, and found a great goal.”

The Thundering Herd men’s soccer team will play at High Point Sept. 14, and the next home game will be against Northern Kentucky Sept. 21^st at 7:30 pm at Hoops Family Field.

Joseph Ashley can be reached at [email protected].