[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 94 (Friday, May 28, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3934-S3935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 257--COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MARSHALL 
   UNIVERSITY THUNDERING HERD MEN'S SOCCER TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2020 
   NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION I MEN'S SOCCER 
                         NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mrs. CAPITO (for herself and Mr. Manchin) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 257

       Whereas, on May 17, 2021, the Marshall University 
     Thundering Herd men's soccer team (in this preamble referred 
     to as the ``Thundering Herd'') defeated the Indiana 
     University Hoosiers by a score of 1 to 0 in overtime in the 
     2020 National Collegiate Athletic Association (in this 
     preamble referred to as the ``NCAA'') Division I national 
     championship game;
       Whereas the 2020 NCAA Division I national championship is 
     the first national championship in the history of the men's 
     soccer program at Marshall University and the University's 
     first Division I championship in any sport;
       Whereas the Thundering Herd is the first active member of 
     the Conference USA to win a NCAA national championship in any 
     sport;
       Whereas the 2020 NCAA men's soccer season was moved from 
     the fall of 2020 to the spring of 2021 due to the coronavirus 
     pandemic;
       Whereas the Thundering Herd overcame the adversity of the 
     season, finishing with a record of 13 wins, 2 losses, and 3 
     draws;
       Whereas the Thundering Herd were the Conference USA regular 
     season champions, earning the team a bid to the NCAA 
     tournament;
       Whereas the number 10 seeded Thundering Herd won 4 games in 
     the NCAA tournament leading up to the national championship 
     game, by defeating the number 23 seeded Fordham University, 
     the number 1 seeded Clemson University, the number 8 seeded 
     Georgetown University, and the number 16 seeded University of 
     North Carolina;
       Whereas Jamil Roberts scored his third game-winning goal in 
     the NCAA Tournament in the 98th minute of the national 
     championship game, solidifying the Thundering Herd's victory 
     and earning him the title of the NCAA Tournament's Offensive 
     Most Outstanding Player;
       Whereas Nathan Dossantos, Vinicius Fernandes, Max 
     Schneider, and Vitor Dias of Marshall University were named 
     to the NCAA All-Tournament Team;
       Whereas in 4 years as head coach, Chris Grassie took the 
     team from missing the Conference USA Tournament in his first 
     season to becoming the 2020 national champions; and
       Whereas Coach Grassie has rallied the Sons and Daughters of 
     Marshall University

[[Page S3935]]

     around the soccer program, thus transforming Marshall 
     University into a soccer school: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the Marshall University Thundering Herd men's 
     soccer team (in this resolution referred to as the 
     ``Thundering Herd'') for winning the 2020 National Collegiate 
     Athletic Association Division I men's soccer national 
     championship;
       (2) recognizes the players, coaches, and staff of the 
     Thundering Herd; and
       (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) the President of Marshall University, Jerome A. 
     Gilbert; and
       (B) the head coach of the Thundering Herd, Chris Grassie.

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