HUNTINGTON -- Newcomers provided the offense and one veteran did his best to keep the opponent at bay and No. 2-ranked Marshall edged George Mason 2-1 Friday night in the soccer season opener in front of 2,153 fans at Hoops Family Field/Marshall Veterans Soccer Complex.

Larry Noel scored on a header at 29:08 for his first goal for the No. 2 Thundering Herd and a 1-0 lead. David de la Vibora got his first college goal period at 41:50 when he converted a pass from Joao Roberto and 2-0 lead at the break.

George Mason got a big break early in the second half when it got an own goal as a Thundering Herd defender sent a ball in the box past stunned keeper Dan Rose into the net to allow the Patriots to get within 2-1.

From that point, Herd veteran and captain Ryan Holmes and his back line mate

See Full Page