SUCCESSFUL SOCCER MONARCHS GEARING UP FOR 2011 CAMPAIGN

NORFOLK, VA—The Old Dominion University Soccer Monarchs who have reached at least the second round of the NCAA College Cup seven of the last nine years, including last year opens the 2011 season Friday, Sept. 2 against Houston Baptist in the opening round of the West Virginia Nike Classic.  The Monarchs will then play 17^th ranked West Virginia on Sunday, Sept.4^th.  ODU is nationally ranked in three polls, including 25^th in SOCCER AMERICA, and 26^th in COLLEGE SOCCER NEWS.

“Overall we are returning a very good core group and hope to build on our 2010 trip to the NCAA Tournament,” said   ODU head coach Alan Dawson who is in his 15^th season at the helm of the Monarchs program. He is 159-89-25 at ODU making him the school’s winningest coach, and 288-119-35 overall in 23 years as a collegiate head coach. Under Dawson, ODU has 13 straight winning seasons, seven NCAA College Cup appearances into the second round, two of which advanced to the third round. 

ODU returns seven starters, including four of its leading scorers. Heading the list of returnees is junior forward and co-captain Chris Harmon (Downingtown, PA.), sophomore forward Gideon Asante,  junior midfielder Jordan LeBlanc  (Haverford, PA.) and sophomore midfielder Alex Vaughan (Virginia Beach, VA. ).

 Harmon earned All-State honors and is pre-season All-CAA, as he scored seven goals with three assists for 17 points.  Asante was a second team All-CAA selection and Freshman All-American as well as pre-season All-League.  Asante scored four goals with two assists last year and is  one of 42 standouts on the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy  Watch List  which is the highest individual award in intercollegiate soccer. LeBlanc scored five goals with two assists last year and earned third team All-CAA honors and is also a pre-season All-CAA mention, while Vaughan scored four goals last season as a freshman.

 The Monarchs will be counting on sophomore Tim Hopkinson (Nottingham, England) and senior Daniel Lidster (Burke, VA.) along with newcomer Ivan Militar from Hungary up front.

 Forwards:” We have five forwards competing for starting jobs. They all bring unique qualities and they all will contribute to our offense. Junior Yannick Smith and sophomore Tim Hopkinson are leading the way in Pre-season but we expect Senior Daniel Lidster, and Freshmen Ivan Militár and Sidney Revira to emerge as contributors.” – ODU head coach Alan Dawson

Midfield:” Our core group are all returning and include Juniors Chris Harmon (co-captain),Jordan LeBlanc ,as well as sophomores Gideon Asante and Alex Vaughan. This is the strength of our team and we definitely feel that we can score goals from the midfield. We have enough depth to complement this group and have been particularly impressed with freshman Skylar Hagan in pre-season.”- Alan Dawson

In goal, the Monarchs lost three-time All-CAA keeper Evan Newton to graduation and the MLS, but will have returnees Michael Roura (Middletown, NJ.),  Sean Stowe (Midlothian, Va.) and junior newcomer Victor Francoz (Fleurieu Sur Saone, France)  competing for time in the net. Francoz was a two-time NAIA and NSCAA All-American at Lindenwood University in Missouri.   

 Goalkeepers: “We are returning the very capable Senior Michael Roura and sophomore Sean Stowe. Transfer Victor Francoz has raised the bar as they all compete for the starting role.” – Alan Dawson.

Senior defender and co-captain Tommy Webb (Auckland, New Zealand) will lead the backline which was one of the CAA’s toughest to score against last season. Included on the back line are sophomore Jason Gaylord Kendall, NY.) , junior Alex De John (Marlboro, NJ.) and sophomore Ryan Oakes (Virginia Beach, Va.).      

 Defenders- “ Everyone returns in the back and we are anchored by senior co-captain Tommy Webb, along with Jason Gaylord, Alex De John and Ryan Oakes give us a lot of experience. We are deep at this position and can count on senior Drew Smith to help us here or in the midfield.”- Alan Dawson

The Monarchs will again play another formidable non-conference schedule along with the always strong Colonial Athletic Association.   Three of ODU’s non-conference opponents are ranked in SOCCER AMERICA’s pre-season poll, including third ranked North Carolina, 17^th ranked West Virginia and 21^st ranked Monmouth. 

 Again, ODU plays West Virginia in Morgantown on Sept. 4^th, Monmouth on Sept. 11 in the ODU Stihl Soccer Classic and North Carolina on Sept. 27^th in Chapel Hill. ODU defeated the Tar Heels last year.

 This year’s 36^th annual Stihl Soccer Classic is Sept 9 and 11, and will include four teams from last year’s NCAA College Cup in East Tennessee State, defending CAA champion William and Mary along with Monmouth and ODU.

 CAA play opens up on Sept. 24^th when ODU travels to George Mason which is the middle of three road games.  The Monarchs CAA home opener is on Sept. 30 against Delaware.

 “The schedule is very competitive and features five 2010 NCAA Tournament opponents. Our Stihl classic features two of those teams in ETSU and Monmouth which should make for a very exciting weekend of soccer. Our out of conference opponents also include Top Twenty programs in West Virginia and North Carolina. The CAA schedule will be daunting as usual as every game is a dog fight. We hope that or non- conference schedule prepares us for this.” – Alan Dawson

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