The Marshall High boys’ soccer team defeated host Madison, 1-0, in a key Liberty District contest last Friday night in Vienna.
The game’s only goal came from senior defender/midfielder Brendan Stringer, who found the net nine minutes into the second half off of a free kick set-up by senior Scott Bugby from 45 yards out.
"It was a great ball," said Marshall coach Ricardo Silva, of the long free kick by Bugby, a defender/midfielder, which set the goal up. "Stringer just finished it. He came in unmarked from the back side."
The goal came from just inside the six-yard box and broke the scoreless tie. It would end up holding up as the Statesmen improved to 5-2-3 overall and 2-1-1 in district play.
It marked the fourth straight game in which Marshall has not lost. During that span, the Statesmen have two wins and two ties. The team’s last loss came at Stone Bridge a few weeks ago. Since then, Marshall has tied Langley, 2-2, beat W.T. Woodson, 4-2, tied Edison, 2-2, and defeated the Warhawks.
<b>IN THE WIN</b> over Madison, Marshall started the game slow, according to Silva, before ultimately getting the better of the action. On the night, the Statesmen outshot the home team, 18 to six.
"I think we started a bit lethargic," said Silva. "We were trying to manage the match and that gave Madison some opportunities. We ended up out-playing them."
The Statesmen, as the game progressed, had several opportunities to score. But the only time they were able to cash in was on Stringer’s goal. As it turned out, that was all Marshall needed.
The Bugby-Stringer combination goal was the third time the duo has teamed up to find the net this spring off of free kicks/throw-ins combined.
"There’s a senior connection there," said Silva.
Defensively, the shutout was the first for Marshall this season. Senior goalie Wally Al-Kakhan earned the win in the net.
"I think our defensemen played very, very well," said Silva. "Probably our best defensive game all year. Wally was able to clear things out."
Silva said defender Bugby, in particular, did a fine job of removing the ball out of danger’s way with several clears that halted Madison attacks towards the net.
"He just cleared everything," said the coach. "He executed very well."
The victory was especially special for Marshall because it came over its longtime, cross-town Vienna-area rival.
"The win is a tremendous help to our morale," said Silva. "Madison is a cross-town rival. These boys [from both teams] all grew up together. We wanted to make a stand. There were lots of fans in the stands."
In Marshall’s prior game, the Statesmen played non-district opponent Edison to a tie. Marshall trailed early 1-0 before coming back and taking a 2-1 lead. But the Eagles tied the contest at 2-2 with 15 minutes left to play in the second half. Later, with about eight minutes left, Edison earned a penalty kick try. But Marshall’s Al-Kakhan stopped the shot to preserve the tie score.
The Marshall goals against Edison came from freshman Julian Smith off a corner and senior Greg Goldbach, off an assist from sophomore Chris Gates.
Coach Silva is pleased with the way his team has played in recent weeks but realizes his team still has a ways to go to get to the level he wants to see them playing at.
"If we’re ever satisfied and complacent about where we [are], we’ll find things tough ahead," he said.
Marshall was scheduled to meet district opponent McLean earlier this week on Tuesday. The Statesmen were scheduled to be off the remainder of the week. Next week, Marshall will play non-district foe Mount Vernon on Monday and Jefferson three days later on May 1.