HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA – The defending Sun Belt Champs are preparing for Thursday’s home opener against Cal State Fullerton and the FM88 Sports team is set to deliver another season of Marshall Men’s Soccer Coverage.
Ben Anderson will serve as Play-by-Play commentator and Ethan Peltier will be adding his insight as Color Commentator.
The Cutting Edge Sports Radio Network Pregame Show will start at 7:00 p.m., where Anderson and Peltier will be giving you all the information you need before kickoff at 7:15. Once the final whistle blows, stay tuned for the WMUL Postgame Show, where they’ll take a look at the highlights of the match and provide in-depth analysis.
Sports Director Sean Kelly hopes that Marshall is able to go further into tournament play this season.
“My hopes for the upcoming men’s soccer season are at least another deep run in the SBC Tournament, ideally another SBC championship, and a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament as Marshall fell in its second game of the tournament this past season.”
Two talented members of the FM88 Sports staff, John Boggess and Johnathan Edwards, called the games through the post season.
“Being able to call the SBC Championship and NCAA Tournament games gives the staff members who were able to do so a unique point to add on a resume, something not many college students are able to do,” said Kelly. “It also gives them experience of calling a playoff game, giving them experience in calling games on a bigger stage.”
Boggess and Edwards have since graduated, but not before sharing their favorite memories and moments from their time calling Marshall Men’s Soccer, as well as advice for future members of the sports staff.
“I would argue Marshall is one of the best places to get a sports journalism degree right now largely because of the success the Marshall Men’s Soccer team has saw. In my time it was especially cool to be around for the National Championship victory. It’s not very often that someone can go to a university and say they got to call games for the best team in the nation.”
My favorite memory was by far serving as play by play for WMUL during the 2023 Men’s Soccer Sun Belt Championship between Marshall and WVU. While I’ll always put the Herd first, I have a love for both universities and it was truly a pinnacle moment for West Virginia collegiate sports. Every moment of that match was exciting and I think you could really hear in my voice that I was beyond grateful to be there for that moment. My friends and peers have told me that it was some of my best calls in my time at WMUL. I’ve used those highlights for award submissions and it was a great addition to my Virginia’s Associated Press Metro Radio Sports Anchor of the Year submission in which I won first place.
My advice to those after me is take every opportunity that is presented to you. I would have never imagined I would serve as play by play for soccer in such a historical moment, but I took it and made the best of it. Just because you don’t know the sport well in the beginning doesn’t mean there isn’t the opportunity to learn. WMUL gave me that opportunity with soccer and so many other sports and I’ll be grateful for that forever. I’m looking forward to seeing what I do next and to listen to the future of WMUL get these moments themselves.” — John Boggess
“Favorite Memories or moments from calling soccer: Either the Sun Belt Championship and getting to hold the trophy after the match with John Boggess or making Friday the 13th references on Friday the 13th with Sean Kelly
The experience of calling Marshall men’s soccer will hold a special place in my heart forever, as it was the first sport I had the opportunity to be on a commentary crew for. In just one season, I got to do color commentary for one of the best soccer programs in the country and eventually end up on play-by-play for an NCAA tournament game. It was a sport I had to learn a lot about in a short span, and I fell in love with it.
Any Advice: Be sure to be well-spoken and enjoy the match, you have to bring the energy and be consistent!” —Jonathan Edwards
2024 Schedule
Vs Cal State Fullerton 8/22 7:15pm
@ Xavier 8/29 7:00pm
Vs Loyola (Md.) 9/2 1:00pm
Vs High Point 9/6 7:15pm
Vs Gardner-Webb 9/10 7:15pm
Vs St. John’s 9/14 7:15pm
@ South Carolina 9/20 7:00pm*
Vs VCU 9/15 7:15pm
Vs ODU 9/29 4:30pm*
Vs JMU 10/4 7:15pm*
@ UCF 10/11 7:00pm*
@ Coastal Carolina 10/18 8:00pm*
Vs Georgia Southern 10/23 7:15pm*
@ Georgia State 10/27 6:00pm*
@ Kentucky 11/1 7:00pm*
Vs WVU 11/5 7:15pm*