2008 Woodie Awards
Men's soccer to face highly touted South Florida team
By: Jason Jones
Issue date: 8/29/08 Section: Sports
The sun has set on the preseason and now it's time for the Falcons to head to the sunshine state to kick off their new season.
Tomorrow night the Falcons will meet the No. 18 South Florida Bulls at Pepin Stadium in Tampa, Fla. They will no doubt enter the game as the underdog.
"I've watched them play, they are a very good team, extremely, extremely athletic," Head Coach Fred Thompson said.
The experts agree with Thompson about South Florida, because aside from the No. 18 preseason ranking, individuals from USF are also being honored.
USF Senior Yohance Marshall has been selected as a first team All-American on defense.
"He's very good, very athletic, and does a great job of controlling the game from the back," Thompson said.
Last year Marshall anchored a USF defense that recorded a .85 goals against average and recorded eight shutouts in 19 games, including a 1-0 victory over then No. 8 West Virginia in Morgantown.
"We'll have a body on him more often than not, and we'll need to find a way to keep him from controlling the tempo," Thompson said.
Marshall isn't the only USF player being honored this preseason. Kevon Neaves has been added to the 2008 Men's Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy watch list. The award is given to the best player in college soccer each year. He was named to the first team All-Big East Conference team last season, and holds another spot there this preseason.
So while Marshall and company will provide the Falcons with plenty to worry about when on offense, Neaves could keep them on their heels while on defense.
BG goal scorers such as Cameron Hepple and Hunter Van Houten will face a stiff challenge, as USF returns not only Marshall, but also one other defender and sophomore standout Diego Restrepo in the goal. Restrepo recorded 83 saves last season, including a career high seven saves against then No. 15 Southern California.
Bowling Green could have trouble slowing down Neaves and the USF offense as well, especially when injuries are taken into consideration. Senior defender Kyle McNayr will not play, thus leaving a hole in the defense and forcing sophomores Thomas McLean and Dusco Topolic to step up.
Tomorrow night the Falcons will meet the No. 18 South Florida Bulls at Pepin Stadium in Tampa, Fla. They will no doubt enter the game as the underdog.
"I've watched them play, they are a very good team, extremely, extremely athletic," Head Coach Fred Thompson said.
The experts agree with Thompson about South Florida, because aside from the No. 18 preseason ranking, individuals from USF are also being honored.
USF Senior Yohance Marshall has been selected as a first team All-American on defense.
"He's very good, very athletic, and does a great job of controlling the game from the back," Thompson said.
Last year Marshall anchored a USF defense that recorded a .85 goals against average and recorded eight shutouts in 19 games, including a 1-0 victory over then No. 8 West Virginia in Morgantown.
"We'll have a body on him more often than not, and we'll need to find a way to keep him from controlling the tempo," Thompson said.
Marshall isn't the only USF player being honored this preseason. Kevon Neaves has been added to the 2008 Men's Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy watch list. The award is given to the best player in college soccer each year. He was named to the first team All-Big East Conference team last season, and holds another spot there this preseason.
So while Marshall and company will provide the Falcons with plenty to worry about when on offense, Neaves could keep them on their heels while on defense.
BG goal scorers such as Cameron Hepple and Hunter Van Houten will face a stiff challenge, as USF returns not only Marshall, but also one other defender and sophomore standout Diego Restrepo in the goal. Restrepo recorded 83 saves last season, including a career high seven saves against then No. 15 Southern California.
Bowling Green could have trouble slowing down Neaves and the USF offense as well, especially when injuries are taken into consideration. Senior defender Kyle McNayr will not play, thus leaving a hole in the defense and forcing sophomores Thomas McLean and Dusco Topolic to step up.
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