Mens soccer team hosts UC tonight

Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, Alabama, New Jersey, Uganda, Guatemala and Uruguay. It is not time for a geography quiz, but it is time for soccer season.

The 2000 men's soccer team has players from seven states and three countries. The team plays the University of Charleston tonight at Sam Hood Field.

This season the Thundering Herd has nine home games. Three of those games include Ohio State, Kentucky and West Virginia University.

However, Charleston can not be taken lightly as an opponent.

"They made it to the Division II finals last year and UC will want to knock off the big boys," Head Coach Bob Gray said. The Thundering Herd has been ranked fifth in the Mid-American Conference preseason polls.

The team has few strengths this season. They are more explosive offensively and the Freshman Player of the Year, Byron Carmichael, is back this season.

Uganda native Abdul Wahab Lubega, a transfer from Martin-Methodist in Tennessee, has scored 29 goals the past two seasons.

"He will provide a lot of offense," Coach Gray said.

The team lost only one starter from last season. There are four seniors, seven juniors, 15 sophomores and eight freshman on this year's team.

The team captains are fullback Wayne Bennett and goalkeeper Taly Goode. Fans may think they are seeing double with twin brothers, David and Steven Spaulding, on the team. First year player Steven Spaulding could see action in the midfield.

Gray said he feels good about the team. Last season Marshall finished with a 9-11-1 record. and made it to the semifinals of the MAC tournament.

Marshall students receive free admission to all home games.