Seven seniors will take the field for the last time as student athletes for Marshall University’s women’s soccer team in the squad’s final game of the season against Western Kentucky University on Friday.

“We hope that their emotions will drive them through the game,” Head Coach Kevin Long said. “Despite wins and losses, being able to call yourself a son or daughter of Marshall is a special thing to call yourself.”

The Herd – who have struggled this season with a 4-13-0, (Conference USA 2-8-0) record thus far – still have an opportunity to end the season on a high note with a win over the Hilltoppers.

Additionally, the Abu-Tayeh twins, Marah Abu-Tayeh and Farah Abu-Tayeh will have one last game to challenge opposing defenders in a Marshall jersey. The sisters led the Herd during the 2018 season in scoring and this year has been no different.

Marah Abu-Tayeh has found the net eight times this season to add to her resume of 16 career goals and Farah Abu-Tayeh added four to give her 10 career goals with the final game yet to be played.

“We knew going in that they (the twins) were going to be really hard for opponents to handle,” Long said. “They have stepped up in the absence of injured players and have been great.”

Still, WKU will come to Hoops Family Field with getting a win on its mind. The lady Hilltoppers are 9-6-1, (C- USA 5-4) on the year and coming off a 1-0 win against UAB on senior night.

Marshall has lost its last three matchups against WKU, but Long’s team should be loose and competing at its highest level since they did not make the conference tournament. Despite the ups and downs of the season, the Herd can put everything behind them and go out and have fun in the final game and build confidence for next season, according to Long.

“The motivation for this game is just to finish the season on a high note helping us spring forward to next year,” Long said.

The matchup is set for Friday at 7 p.m. EST at Hoops Family Field.

Brigham Warf can be contacted at [email protected].