Marshall cruises to 8-0 win on senior night
MARSHALL — Inching closer to the end of the season by adding on another win to an already impressive 2024 campaign, the Marshall boys soccer team defeated Morris Area 8-0 Monday night for senior night, its last home game of the regular season.
Marshall has found success all year, only dropping two games on Aug. 23 and Sept. 3., and clinched the Gold Division Title after last Thursday’s victory against Wings United. All 11 seniors were put in the starting lineup, to take their home field for the last time and tallied five first half goals.
“They [seniors] were great today because we started with them, and we wanted to see their composure,” Marshall head coach Antonio Correa said. “Our experience has gone up a lot.”
The seniors this season are goalkeeper Roberto Garcia Lopez, midfielder Jared Hernandez, midfielder Mason Graven, defender Jasiel Flores, midfielder Alex Lim-Bjork, defender Eli Pedersen, defender Abubakar Hassan, defender Salman Yasin, midfielder Antoni Suar Gutierrez, defender Eh Ray Htoo and forward Moo Gay.
Correa said the seniors’ impact has grown the program’s experience game by game, and their only current focus is finishing off the season and having a good run in the playoffs.
Marshall took control from the jump and rarely visited its attacking third on defense. Gay had two of Marshall’s five first half goals, including a long shot from just past midfield at the top of the seventh minute. His other goal came toward the end of the half with three minutes to go.
Flores first got the momentum started in the second minute of the game, dribbling up the left side of the field, passing off to Gay, who assisted back to Flores who nailed it in.
Pedersen showcased some of his moves just a few minutes later in the ninth minute, dribbling between a handful of Morris defenders and logging a goal of his own. Htoo followed with a high-arched kick that also found itself in the back of the net in the 15th minute.
Correa said the team’s strong start had to do with making sure everyone feels comfortable and confident on the field, which has been a focal point in his coaching all year.
The second half’s score was stagnant, with several shots on goal until junior forward Isaiah Arugueta kicked it to the back right of the net at the 20th minute.
Marshall decided to end their home play with another rally, notching a pair of goals at the end. Hernandez scored a goal at the 78th minute, and sophomore defender Easton Manke also made his way down to the attacking third zone for the night’s final goal with 15 seconds to go, and the 8-0 win.
Marshall now moves to 11-2-2 overall and has a quick turnaround and will finish the regular season tonight when it travels to New Ulm for the conference championship at Eagles Stadium at 7 p.m.
The last time the two met earlier this season, Marshall walked away with a 3-0 victory.
“We have already beat New Ulm, and the only thing I would say is I do not want them to go into that [game] thinking it’s going to be the same game,” Correa said. “It’s the same team we have played, but it’s going to be tough the whole match.”