Rhys Owens
9-30-24
This past Sunday, at Hoops Family Field, the number seven ranked Marshall Thundering Herd took on Old Dominion University in Marshall’s second conference game of the season. This matchup of old conference foes was an exciting back and forth affair, coming down to the final 10 minutes.
The game began at 4:35 under a light drizzle, which would dissipate before the end of the first period. Herd fans were loud and excited during the foul filled first period, which was mostly uneventful aside from several off-target shots by both teams.
However, in the 43rd minute a Marshall foul would set ODU up with a penalty to end the period. Karan Mandair of Old Dominion would line up for the penalty, but Marshall goalkeeper Aleksa Janjic would make a diving save to prevent a goal, taking the momentum into the locker room.
After a slow start, Marshall would come alive in the second period. In the 54th minute forward Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos banged in a goal off a beautiful pass by Pablo Simon to give the Herd the 1-0 lead. Nearly 20 minutes later the Monarchs answered with a goal from forward Key White assisted by Marcelo Randolph.
Four minutes after the Monarchs tied the game, they would get a chance to take the lead; a great shot by Monarch forward William Arnesen was saved by goalkeeper Aleksa Janjic in emphatic fashion. In the 84th minute, Marshall would get a corner, setting them up for a chance at a goal. The ball weaved into play and found mid-fielder Aleksandar Vukovic whose shot would be blocked by Monarch goalkeeper Michael Statham. However, the blocked shot would ricochet back to the feet of Marshalls players and was punched in by Marco Silva, putting the Herd up 1 with 6 minutes left to play.
Despite the Herd having only seven shot attempts to ODU’s 12, they would pull off the conference win by way of possession, having the ball 65% of the time during the first period and 73% in the second.
Marshall looks to continue their winning ways when they play their third conference game of the season against the number 10 ranked JMU Dukes on Friday, October 4th, at 7:15 p.m.