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SPORTS
MU, Xavier tie during soccer match
Marshall's Tom Jackson (7) and Jordan Hilgefort (19) try to get a head on the ball against Brendan Rogers and Justin Jarvis of Xavier during the soccer match on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, at Sam Hood Field in Huntington.
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HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University outshot Xavier University, 21-3, but couldn't find the back of the net and drew with the Musketeers, 0-0, in a Wednesday night men's soccer match at Sam Hood Field.
The season opener for both squads attracted a crowd of 357.
"We took it to them, statistically you can see that," Marshall coach Bob Gray said. "We had several good chances and hit the crossbar twice. We played in their half of the field and I don't think they really had one good scoring threat against us."
Marshall blitzed the Musketeers right out of the gate.
Sammy Boateng's long shot in the seventh minute was tipped over the crossbar by Xavier goalkeeper Justin Marshall. Less than one minute later a Xavier defender had to clear a Devin Perkins shot from off the goal line.
Despite the pressure and outshooting Xavier, 8-1 in the first 45 minutes, Marshall failed to break the scoreless tie.
The second half was more of the same.
Marshall almost got the game-winner with 30 seconds remaining when a Carl Munday cross found Perkins open in the middle of the field, but his header ricocheted off the crossbar.
Xavier also missed a late opportunity when Marshall goalkeeper Daniel Withrow stopped a shot by James Getzen with 17 seconds left.
In sudden death overtime, Marshall also had a shot by Tom Jackson hit the crossbar.
"I like our team," Gray said. "I think it bodes well for the future, but obviously we are going to have to put some of those chances away. We know there are a lot of one goal games out there, and this is a game that we should have gotten the victory.
"But, we will build from this because we have a lot of games coming up."
Xavier goalkeeper Justin Marshall made five saves. Withrow had one save.
The Herd had seven corners compared to one for the Musketeers.
Marshall's next match is 3 p.m., Friday, against Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. The Herd's next match at home is 1 p.m., Monday, against Radford University.
