Marietta’s McDonald named OAC Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Junior collects five points in season-opening win over Malone

Sept. 2, 2008
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio — The Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) office released its first edition of Players of the Week for the 2008-09 school year on Tuesday (Sept. 2) afternoon, and Marietta College junior forward Deric McDonald (Vienna, W.Va./Parkersburg) was named the Men’s Soccer Player of the Week.

McDonald, who transferred from West Virginia Wesleyan this fall, made the most of his debut with Marietta by scoring a pair of goals and assisting another in the Pioneers’ 5-0 victory over visiting Malone on Saturday (Aug. 30) at Marietta Field. The last time that Marietta won its season opener came six years ago when Head Coach Pat Holguin’s Pioneers defeated Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) College 3-2 to open the 2003 Marietta Classic.

McDonald set up Marietta’s first goal with pass to junior teammate Kyle Muth (Twinsburg) in the seventh minute. He then scored two goals in under 90 seconds at the beginning of the second half to help the Pioneers pull away. McDonald scored his first goal in the 48th minute from just inside the 18-yard box following a cross from Muth. He then scored his second goal in the 49th minute when he bent a shot with his left foot over the keeper and inside the far post from 18-yards out to extend the lead to 3-0.

Marietta is back in action on Wednesday (Sept. 3) evening when it travels to the College of Wooster for a 5 p.m. match-up with the Fighting Scots. The Pioneers will then host Christopher Newport (Va.) University, Walsh University and Westminster (Pa.) College in the 2008 Marietta Soccer Classic on Saturday (Sept. 6) and Sunday (Sept. 7) at Marietta Field.