Marshall's Jonas Westmeyer found the back of the net in the third minute and Marshall held on for a hard-fought 1-0 win over Duquesne in the season opener for both schools at Marshall's Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex. The Dukes return to action next Friday when they take on Northern Kentucky on Rooney Field. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jonas Westmeyer got Marshall on the board in the third minute when he took a cross at the penalty spot and put it away.
• Three minutes later DU's Manel Busquets shook a defender and crossed it right-to-left in the direction of Gylfi Stefansson but it was picked off by Marshall keeper Paulo Pita before Stefansson could get a head on it.
• Busquets split the defense and got it to Austin Stout who found Noah Mehta for a shot that slid wide right of the MU goal in the 26^th minute.
• Marshall's Pedro Dolabella sent a header right of the goal in the 34^th minute.
• MU outshot DU 8-2 (4-1 on goal) in the first half. Duquesne had four corners to three for Marshall in the opening 45 minutes.
• There was just one shot on goal (by Marshall) in the second half.
• Olav Hovstad was credited with Duquesne's lone shot on goal on a header in the 17^th minute. Marshall finished with five shots on goal.
• In Marshall's best scoring chance of the second half, Dolabella sent a shot over the crossbar from the top of the box in the 81^st minute.
• DU's Robbie McKelvey finished with four saves.
• The Dukes started six freshmen, all in the field: Nathan Dossantos, Gylfi Stefansson, Manel Busquets, Eric Zech, Moritz Kappelsberger and Rob Dymond.

 
DUQUESNE HEAD COACH CHASE BROOKS
    "We talked all preseason about taking steps forward and making sure by the time conference play rolls around we are clicking on all cylinders. Tonight, even though the result didn't go our way, it was definitely a positive step forward. Marshall is a very good team that will make some noise in Conference USA. A lot of young guys got some minutes tonight and we battled. We have to learn its a 90-minute game and you have to earn your results at this level and that's part of the maturation process. We'll get back to work tomorrow morning and start preparing for next Friday [home opener vs. Northern Kentucky]."