Worthington vs. Marshall

6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 20

Worthington has rolled its way to an undefeated record in dominant fashion. The Trojans (8-0, 6-0) have only played one game this season that was decided by a single goal — a 2-1 victory over Waseca on Aug. 30. 

Still, No. 5-1A Worthington sits only five points ahead of Marshall in the Big South Conference standings, and the Tigers pose a worthy challenge to the Trojans. Victor Alvarez (4 goals) and Anthony Euceda (3 goals) lead Worthington's offense and will need to be sharp against a Marshall team that has no trouble scoring in volume. 

Marshall lost for the first time this season on Sept. 15 — a 3-2 final against Waseca. Even in the loss, the Tigers (6-1-1, 4-1-1), who have outscored opponents 26-9, showed their ability to generate offense. A 1-1 tie on Aug. 25, also against Waseca, was the only game this season the Tigers scored fewer than two goals.

If Marshall is going to mount a conference title challenge, it's imperative that the Tigers pull Worthington within striking distance with a win. A Marshall win would not only be a momentum boost, but it could also set up a high-stakes matchup when the two teams play again in the final week of the regular season.