Marshall Women's Soccer Kickoffs 2025 Season With Fans First Exhibition Against UPIKE

 By Ben Anderson


    Marshall Women’s Soccer welcomes the UPIKE Bears in a preseason Fans First Exhibition tomorrow at Hoops Family Field.


    The Thundering Herd enters its fourth season in the Sun Belt Conference and second under head coach Rafa Simoes. UPIKE also known as the University of Pikeville, are members of the NAIA Appalachian Athletics Conference and led by first-year head coach Shane Taylor. 


    The two teams had opposite results a year ago. The Thundering Herd struggled as it finished 3-8-5. UPIKE had a historic season finishing with the second most wins in program history with 9 as it went 9-7-2. The Bears also picked up a program-best 6 wins in conference play, going 6-5-2, and concluding the season with the first ever to finish with winning a record both overall and in conference play.


    Both teams had to revamp its rosters as the Thundering Herd lost 13 players, while UPIKE lost eight from a year ago. Marshall brings in 12 new players including 7 freshmen, while UPIKE brings in 10 newcomers with 6 freshmen.


    The Thundering Herd brings in numerous opponents from below the NCAA Division I level this season to Hoops Family Field as it brings in Glenville State & Fairmont State from the Division II Mountain East Conference. 


    The Thundering Herd brings back its top scorer & goalkeeper with the senior duo of midfielder Bailey Fisher with three goals, and Alexis Wolgemuth who pitched three shutouts and is now ranked third all-time in program history with 11. The Bears also return their best scorer with sophomore midfielder Rebekah Christopher who found the back of the net seven times last season. UPIKE brings in sophomore goalkeeper Kayley Smith, who replaces Millie Conod, and started one game last season. 


    Marshall begins the regular season on August 20th against Glenville State while UPIKE starts its regular season on August 23rd against Carolina University.


    You can tune into the contest on WMUL-FM 88.1 and online at marshall.edu/WMUL. FM88 Sports Ben Anderson, and Marshall University Director of the School of Journalism & Mass Communications Dr. Rob Quicke will be on the call with pregame coverage at 3:45. and kickoff at 4 p.m.


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