Withers Scores Two - Racers Over Marshall In Season Opener

Sunday, August 20

Cutchin Field

2 p.m.

Murray State

1-0

Marshall

0-2

Marshall

Murray St.

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Withers Scores Two - Racers Over Marshall In Season Opener

8/20/2017 5:01:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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The reigning Ohio Valley Conference women's soccer regular season champions took the first step to repeating their success, as Murray State (1-0) defeated Marshall (0-2) 2-0 on home turf at Cutchin Field in Murray, Kentucky.

"I thought we played very well again today and continued what we have done in preseason." MSU coach Jeremy Groves said. "We started the game well and created some good chances. We wanted to up the tempo of the game in the second half and I thought we did creating more chances. I was very impressed with our patience up front, we kept plugging away and finally broke through. I was really pleased with our defense- they played very good again. That's 3 clean sheets in a row."

The Racers controlled the pace of play, bringing the action to the Thundering Herd for the majority of the game, with 21 total shots and 14 of those being on target.

Two-time OVC Player of the Year Harriet Withers scored her first goal of the season and the first for the Racers at the 51 minute mark, sending a dart to the upper right corner of the goal to give Murray a 1-0 advantage.

Withers wasn't finished, as she received a through-ball from Karsyn Hasch in the 87th minute and beat the keeper as she walked the ball in, to push the Racer lead to 2-0.

With the two goals in the match, Withers picked up her fourth brace of her career, seeing one in each of her now four seasons.

Solid defense and goaltending complimented the strong offensive attack. The Thundering Herd were only able to put three shots on Alex Steigerwald, who picked up her first clean sheet of the year and the 12^th of her career, tying her with Karen Fitzharris for second most by a Racer all-time.

Murray State continues the season with a trip to Troy, Alabama as they face off against the Trojans of Troy Friday, August 25 at 5 p.m. 35720

Match Notes
Withers how has 27 career goals and is taking aim at the all-time MSU mark of 34 by Theresa Reedy (2001-04).

Murray State is now 7-10-1 in all-time season openers. This was the second time in Coach Jeremy Groves' Racers scored a win in the season opener. In the 2015, the Racers scored a 2-1 win at Mississippi State.

The Racers now have five all-time wins against Conference USA teams.

Murray State all-time series with Marshall is now in favor of the Racers 1-0-1. The Thundering Herd visited Cutchin Field and battled the Racers to a 2-2 tie in 2008.

The Racers have begin the 18th season in program history with a win and now are 143-152-34.

MSU is 81-57-13 all-time at Cutchin Field.

The Racers' game at Troy (Aug. 25) starts a three game road swing. MSU also plays at South Alabama (Aug. 27) and Northern Kentucky (Sep. 3) before coming hom (Sept. 8) to host Little Rock.