After two MAC wins last week, the women’s soccer team faces Marshall and Ohio this week in two games head coach Andy Richards has said are must-win, as the Falcons look to improve on their 3-2 conference record.
Richards said he has been happy with the team’s practice this week.
“We’ve had another good week of practice, and two wins always helps,” Richards said. “We have had some good days and now we are just preparing for (today’s) game.”
Richards said the Falcons will be healthy for today’s game against Marshall. That includes freshman Samantha Meister, who has missed the past few weeks with a broken nose.
“Having Sam come back at this point of the season, with ten games to go, will really give us a boost,” Richards said. “The middle of the season is when you get a few tired legs, and it’s when we need to give some players a bit of a break, and this will help us to do that.”
Meister said she is excited to get back out on the field.
“I am ready to play,” Meister said. “I have been waiting too long. I am physically 100 percent.”
Richards expects both Marshall and Ohio to be aggressively played games.
“They are both very strong programs,” Richards said. “Ohio is a team we would really like to knock off, and Marshall has improved a lot over the past few years.”
Richards said that Marshall and Ohio are alike in the way that they play.
“I think both teams are similar in that they like to attack,” Richards said. “We have been working all week on how to play against that style, and the kids have been working really hard so that we can put those things into play.”
The Falcons may face an opponent this weekend stronger than the Bobcats or Thundering Herd, as wet weather could be a factor in both games.
Richards said the remnants of Hurricane Lili shouldn’t affect the Falcons’ game plan.
“I don’t think you can worry too much about that, because often it doesn’t happen,” Richards said. “I am sure that we’ll be able to adapt to whatever the weather throws at us.”
The Falcons play Marshall today and 4p.m. and Ohio at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
