— By David Walsh
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Pablo Simon’s goal with highlight written all over it and Loic Sany Kong’s goal off a header on a set piece off a corner kick propelled Marshall past Gardner-Webb, 2-0, Tuesday night in front of 1,175 fans at Hoops Family Field/Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex.
Early on the Runnin’ Bulldogs pressed the action and had the best scoring chance only to see Elias Khodri’s shot at 27:46 go off the crossbar.
The patient Herd finally broke through when Simon took a ball that had gone off the heads of three different players at his feet just outside the box and blasted a high, arching shot that curved in and over the outstretched arms of Gardner-Webb goalkeeper Alan Horrocks. The goal came at 42:16 and gave the home side the momentum.
“Simon got a great chance. ESPN No. 1,” Herd coach Chris Grassie said about Simon’s goal being a candidate to make Top 10 plays on ESPN’s Sportscenter telecast.
SIMON WITH THE STRIKE ⚡️️#NCAASoccer #SCTop10 x 🎥 ESPN+pic.twitter.com/ZN73YvUmvJ
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) September 11, 2024
At 67:20, the Herd’s Tarik Pannholzer had a high hard shot go off the crossbar.
Moments later, the Herd set up for a corner kick. Alex Bamford set the ball across the box, Alext Stjernegaard got it and headed it to Kong who then headed a shot home at 69:36. It was his second goal in his third match after becoming eligible.
“Tactical genius,” Grassie said. “Get the smaller guy off and the bigger guy on. We’ve probably got 10 or 11 corner kick plays. We won a championship against Charlotte off the same play. We vary up the way we do things. Great for the guys to execute.”
Marshall, ranked sixth nationally and preseason favorite to win the Sun Belt Conference again, is 4-1-0. It’s next match is Saturday at home against St. Johns. Start time is 7:15.
Gardner-Webb, coming in off a 3-1 win over Wake Forest on Friday, is 3-1-1.
Grassie said the Runnin’ Bulldogs battled his team right to the end.
“Probably the best team we’ve played this year,” Grassie said. “They gave us their best shot. How do we get open, how do we break out? We talk about game spirit, not fighting spirit. We want to figure out where to move guys and they came through with flying colors. You never know what to expect. We generally get a different tactic by a team than they did ever before. Sit back or press? It’s difficult to train for on the field. You go figure it out.”
Grassie has been rotating goalkeepers Aleksa Janjic and Dan Rose. Janjic had three saves as did Horrocks for the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
“They’ve both done great things and they’ve made mistakes,” Grassie said. “The competition is good for both. Have to rotate both. Gives you headaches. The whole team gives me headaches. Who should be where? I like that problem.”
Kong is a freshman who exhibits speed and agility.
“He struggled the first half,” Grassie said. “It’s great to see him come on. Got to figure out college. It’s a different learning experience. It’s more intense, so different.”
Janjic has been in goal for the four wins. He had three shutouts.
Khodri, who leads the Runnin’ Bulldogs with seven points, got off three shots Tuesday.
Saturday’s match ends a four-game home stand for Marshall. The Herd starts Sun Belt play September 20 at South Carolina.