Complete Release in PDF Format

Match Box Score in PDF Format

Aug. 23, 2008

Final Stats

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - The Marshall University's women's soccer interim head coach, Kevin Long, earned his first regular season victory with the Thundering Herd Saturday afternoon. Marshall took a 3-1 decision over non-conference foe St. Bonaventure University at McGraw-Jennings Field.

"We are all excited about starting off on a positive note," coach Long said. "St. Bonaventure is a very good team."

With the victory, the Herd improved to 1-0 while the Bonnies fell 0-1 in regular season. The afternoon match-up was the first in school history.

The Herd's freshman Erin Blakely (Westerville, Ohio) tallied her first career and season goal in the 15th minute off of an Erika Duncan (Easthaven, Scotland) corner kick.

Early in the 53rd minute, Duncan registered her sixth career and first season goal 18 yards out from an Angela DeSumma (Doylestown, Pa.) pass.

Senior Ali Lizotte (Iron Station, N.C.) scored her second career and first season goal in the 61st minute off a 25 yard free kick in the upper left corner. DeSumma added an assist in the Herd's final goal and finished with two shots, one being on goal.

Freshmen Katie Ball (Louisville, Ky.) and Paige Oechsle (Oxford, Pa.) also ended with one shot on goal. Sophomore Missy Gordon (Carmel, Ind.) contributed two shots with one being on goal.

"Scoring three goals in one match is a great accomplishment for the team," coach Long continued.

Marshall won despite being out shot, 13-11. The Herd tallied eight shots on goal while the Bonnies registered nine.

Early in the 89th minute, the Bonnies' tallied its only goal when Anna Cunningham bounced it off her hip past junior keeper Liz Orton (Fort Collins, Colo.).

Orton took the victory with eight saves while St. Bonaventure's Nicole Markert finished with five saves. Orton now has 198 all-time career saves.

"We almost got everybody playing time which shows how deep we will be this season," coach Long added.

The Herd will continue its two-match road trip to open regular season action when it travels to Emmitsburg, Md. with a contest against Mount St. Mary's University, Aug. 30, which also will be a first-time meeting in school history. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. at the Waldron Family Stadium.

Herd fans can check out and purchase photos from the 2007 women's soccer season at http://herdsportsphotos.exposuremanager.com/ under "2007 Women's Soccer."