MEN'S SOCCER DEFEATS MARSHALL TO CLOSE SPRING SEASON

CHARLESTON, WV - The Davis & Elkins men's soccer team defeated Marshall University 3-2 on Sunday to conclude their spring season.

  The Senators started strong on the turf field at Trace Fork Soccer Complex and jumped out to a 2-0 lead at halftime. James Pucci scored both goals in the first half, the first one off a free kick and the second off a strong run to the goal that allowed him enough space to beat the Thundering Herd's keeper.  D&E also received a strong defensive performance led by keeper Daniel Nock, who made several terrific saves to keep Marshall off the board in the first half.

  Marshall responded in the second half and scored two goals in the first 15 minutes of the half to even the score.  The D&E defense stood tall the next 35 minutes and Moy Oseguera produced a solid effort in goal to limit the Herd's offense.  The Senator offense created some scoring opportunities in the last 10 minutes of the game and James Pucci found the back of the net with 30 seconds left to secure the win.  Pucci's shot hit off the post, across the face of the goal and into the opposite corner off an assist from Branko Dugalic.

  The men's soccer team finishes the spring season at 3-2-1 against four NCAA Division I opponents, and NCAA Division II national semi-finalist, and an NAIA national quarterfinalist.

  Coach Bassoff commented on the spring season, "These last two of the spring against Rio Grande and Marshall were the two toughest games of the spring.  Those two teams would have been the tougher teams on our schedule this past fall and that is one of the things we wanted to do this spring, challenge ourselves.  We were a bit disappointed in the Rio game, but again the team showed that the learning curve is very good and came out against a Marshall team that was just as good as Rio and got the result. It was a complete effort on the field against Marshall from all 11 players competing, working hard and executing. I think this spring has served us well for preparation from the fall and the boys did very well and worked hard."

  The Senators will open the 2012 season on August 31 against West Virginia Tech in Charleston, West Virginia.