HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University's men's soccer team secured a convincing 4-0 victory over UC Santa Barbara at Hoops Family Field on Saturday night, with Joao Roberto leading the charge with two goals and an assist in a dominant second-half performance. The Thundering Herd broke open a tight contest with three late goals to secure their first home win of the season.
The match began as a cagey affair, with both teams feeling each other out in the opening stages. UC Santa Barbara showed defensive organization early, sitting deep and looking to frustrate the home side. Marshall controlled possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances against the Gauchos' compact defensive shape.
The breakthrough finally came in the 23rd minute when Kirill Pakhomov gave Marshall the lead. The forward latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Yasha Schaerer, showing composure to round UC Santa Barbara goalkeeper David Mitzner before slotting into an empty net. The goal was a reward for Marshall's patient build-up play and persistence in probing for openings.
Despite taking the lead, Marshall found it difficult to extend their advantage before halftime. UC Santa Barbara defended resolutely, with their backline absorbing pressure and limiting the Thundering Herd to half-chances. The Gauchos earned six corner kicks in the match, showing their ability to create set-piece opportunities, though they failed to truly test Marshall goalkeeper Oliver Semmle.
The second half saw Marshall continue to dominate possession, but UC Santa Barbara remained organized and disciplined in their defensive shape. The visitors showed they were still in the contest, earning corners and maintaining their structure despite being a goal down. For nearly 50 minutes after the opening goal, the match remained delicately poised at 1-0.
The game's decisive moment came in the 71st minute when Joao Roberto doubled Marshall's lead. The Brazilian forward showed excellent movement to get on the end of Keaviano Francis' cross, finishing clinically past Mitzner. Roberto's goal broke UC Santa Barbara's resistance and opened the floodgates for a late Marshall surge.
With the Gauchos forced to push forward in search of a way back into the match, spaces began to appear in their defense. Marshall capitalized ruthlessly on these opportunities in the final ten minutes of the match.
Roberto struck again in the 84th minute, this time scoring an unassisted goal to complete his brace. The forward showed individual brilliance, beating two defenders before firing past Mitzner to make it 3-0. His performance was a masterclass in clinical finishing and intelligent movement.
Just two minutes later, in the 86th minute, Momo Diop put the finishing touch on Marshall's dominant display. Roberto turned provider this time, unselfishly squaring the ball for Diop to tap home from close range. The fourth goal capped off a devastating six-minute spell that transformed a competitive match into a comprehensive victory.
The match statistics painted an unusual picture, with the game seeing an extraordinarily high number of cards – 15 yellow cards and 5 red cards according to official records, though this seems to be a data anomaly. What was clear was Marshall's dominance in the crucial moments, particularly their clinical finishing in the final 20 minutes.
UC Santa Barbara will be disappointed with how the match unraveled in the closing stages. After defending admirably for 70 minutes and keeping the deficit to just one goal, they collapsed in the final quarter of the match. The Gauchos' inability to create meaningful attacking opportunities – managing zero shots on target – ultimately cost them as they tired late in the game.
For Marshall, this victory showcases their ability to break down defensive opponents and their clinical edge in front of goal. The patience shown by the team in continuing to probe despite UC Santa Barbara's defensive resistance was rewarded with a flurry of late goals. Joao Roberto's outstanding individual performance, contributing two goals and an assist, was the highlight of an impressive team display.
The Thundering Herd will take confidence from their ability to close out the match so emphatically. After a frustrating hour of trying to break down a stubborn defense, their explosion of goals in the final 20 minutes demonstrated both fitness and mental strength. This result provides a platform for Marshall to build upon as they continue their season.
Scoring Summary:
MU - Kirill Pakhomov (Yasha Schaerer) 23:24
MU - Joao Roberto (Keaviano Francis) 71:49
MU - Joao Roberto (unassisted) 84:26
MU - Momo Diop (Joao Roberto) 86:01