On Monday, Marshall University made history by winning its first-ever men’s soccer national title. The team defeated the Indiana Hoosiers 1-0 in the 2020 NCAA College Cup.
It was a full house at the game with 5,000 tickets sold. While there wasn’t an exact number of Marshall fans, the stands were scattered with green and white in support of the Thundering Herd.
Both the team and its fans stormed the field as the first and final goal of the game went in. The first overtime of the game was coming to a close when Marshall’s own Jamil Roberts got the game-winning goal.
In a post-game interview, head coach Chris Grassie spoke of the immense effort his team gave to win the title.
“Very, very proud of the boys, just a tremendous performance,” he said. “I told them before the game we’re already winners. This is like a level five team; it just feels magical.”
Before Grassie could even finish the interview, his players stormed around him in celebration.
Midfielder and Marshall senior Pedro Dolabella was also interviewed after the game. He described his feelings about his team’s first national win, his voice full of emotion.
“I can’t describe this feeling; it’s too hard to believe, you know. You know Chris picked me when nobody else was willing to pick me, and we’re here four years later, lifting the trophy, making history. This is for the people of Huntington. We are Marshall.
View the full interviews here.
All quotes were provided by Marshall University.
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The Marshall Thundering Herd is officially the national champion of the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) 2020 Men’s College Cup after defeating third-ranked Indiana 1-0. The championship game took place at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.
It was a close game all the way through, but Marshall’s Jamil Roberts, a senior, got the first and final goal of the night in overtime after a shot from his teammate, Victor Dias, was blocked at the goal.
Throughout the game, the tenth-ranked Herd chose to play a tight defense with fewer players on the offensive end. The Hoosiers chose to play a very forward game, trying to constantly push past Marshall’s defense at a fast rate.
In the end, it was Marshall’s patience that allowed them to set up the final shot.
Marshall’s victory is the university’s first Division 1 national soccer championship in franchise history and the school’s first national championship in more than 20 years. It is also the first time an unranked team has won the national title in the NCAA.