— By David Walsh
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Converting on a set piece, having playmakers deliver and the goalkeeper making the clutch save in a 1-on-in 1 situation moments into the match contributed to Marshall defeating UC Santa Barbara, 4-0, in men’s soccer on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Hoops Family Field/Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex.
For the No. 10 Thundering Herd (2-0-3), the goal total is a single-game high and helped to end a streak of ties at three in a row.
In addition, on one play, officials handed out three yellow cards and two reds. That came at 56:31. The Gauchos (2-4-0) saw Eddie Villela first receive a yellow card on a disputed play. He continued the debate with the officials and eventually got a red card. His ejection meant the visitors had to play a man down the rest of the match.
The debate continued with one of the assistant referees and UC Santa Barbara coach Tim Von Steeg. When he kept protesting, the head referee joined the conversation and after hearing enough, he gave Von Steeg a red card. Exit No. 2. The banter continued and UC Santa Barbara’s Drew Kamienski got a yellow card.
When play did resume, the Herd offense generated several scoring chances and converted three. Two by Joao Roberto and the last by Momo Diop, a transfer from Rider.
On the Herd’s first goal, the home team attempted three straight corner kicks. On the third, Yasha Schaerer sent a ball into the box just high enough for Kirill Pakhomov to get a head on it and send it past Gauchos’ keeper Luke Skinner at 23:24.
“You get a clear run and should be finishing,” Marshall coach Chris Grassie said. “He’ll find the way.”
At 3:38, the visitors from the West Coast had a chance, but Herd keeper stopped a shot by Buba Fofanah from point-blank range. It would be his only save on the day.
With a man advantage, the Herd offense went to work. Joao Roberto got in alone at 71:49 and put a shot between the legs of Skinner. Moments later, he banged home a rebound for his second goal of the season at 84:26 for a 3-0 lead.
Then Diop got into the act. Coming into the box from the right wing, he got past a Gauchos defender and sent a shot past Skinner. Roberto picked up the assist.
Marshall’s depth and the Gauchos having to play a man down almost the whole second half took its toll on the visitors.
“You’ve got to be super aggressive if you want to make it,” Grassie said.
Grassie liked what he saw from Roberto and Diop, who was the Golden Boot winner a year ago as the top offensive player in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. He led Rider with 10 goals and 24 points.
“I liked how he (Roberto) managed the rhythm,” Grassie said. “That’s kind of what he does. He’s really going to understand what the game is. And then he’s in the rightg spot because he knows. I’ve been waiting to see that (Diop goal). He deserved it. Had him spread out. When the guys came in, he and Della are on the wings. They had a constant thread.”
Rose has been keeper for the Herd in all five matches.
“All they did was play long balls. And we got caught switching,” Grassie said. “They get in and you need your goalie to give us one. He did.”
Now the Herd gets ready for Sun Belt Conference play. The Herd’s the preseason pick to win the championship. Opening match is Friday at home against Coastal Carolina. Game time is 7:15 p.m.
“There’s always a target on your back, you expect everybody’s best game,” Grassie said. “All the new guys. They’re just getting used to that. Now every game is the biggest game for the opposition. So we should be ready for that.”
Roberto appreciated his good fortune.
“He’s coming out. I tried to deposit it (shot) behind his up leg. And then Gold helped me be able to score. The second one was a really good opportunity. The ball wasn’t coming to me, and then, thanks to God, the ball was right there.”
The way Robert views it, those goals, along with Rose’s save and goals by Pakhomov and Diop, are just signs of a team playing together.
“That’s really important,” he said about Rose. “The corners we practice a lot. That’s not luck. That’s hard work. We appreciate our coaches. They have worked so hard with us. Wasn’t only my goals that make the victory happen today. It’s all the stuff the players, the coaches do.”
This was the first meeting between the Gauchos and Herd. This was just their second trip ever to the Mountain State. UC Santa Barbara was preseason pick to win the 10-team Big West Conference crown. Its next match is Thursday at UNLV.