Marshall University’s women’s soccer team defeated Florida International University Sunday 1-0 at the Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex in a win the team dedicated to a young man suffering from a number of physical ailments.

The game was a special dedication to celebrate the life of Christian Walroth, a 24-year-old friend of the program who was born with spina bifida, hydrocephalus, Arnold-Chiari malformation, severe scoliosis, as well as other ailments, which left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Marshall head coach Kevin Long named Walroth an honorary team captain for its game against the Florida Atlantic due to the inspiration and impact Walroth has had on the team, as well as others who have come in contact with him.

“Knowing that it was Christian’s big day here, we knew we needed to do something special for him”, senior Kelly Culicerto said. “First half, we didn’t do so well, so we knew we needed to come harder in the second half.”

While both teams were without a goal in the first half, Culicerto became Marshall women’s soccer’s all-time leader in game-winning goals when she scored in the second half. The goal was the ninth game-winning goal of Culicerto’s career.

The win gives the Herd an 11-3-3 record, including a 4-2-2 record in Conference USA play. Marshall’s 11 wins are the most since earning a program record of 12 in 2009.

The Marshall back line held on for the final half hour of the match, giving goalkeeper Lizzie Kish her seventh blank sheet of the season. Kish holds the school record with 19 shutouts for her career.

As a team, the Herd out-shot its opponent for the seventh consecutive match with an 18-8 advantage. Marshall also had the edge in corner kicks, 6-4.

Marshall’s final C-USA road trip will be to Bowling Green, Kentucky to face Western Kentucky University 7 p.m. Friday.

Imani Spradley can be contacted at [email protected].