SOCCER MONARCHS DEFEAT SOUTH CAROLINA TO CLINCH SECOND IN C-USA

COLUMBIA, SC—Tim Hopkinson (Nottingham, England) and Cole Stringer (Keller, TX.) scored a goal each and junior Ivan Militar (Szeged, Hungary) assisted on both to lead the Old Dominion University Monarchs to a 2-1 victory over South Carolina Saturday night, ending the Gamecocks five-game winning streak. ODU completes the regular season at 10-4-1 overall and 7-2 in Conference USA, while USC finishes 7-6-5 overall and 4-2-3 in C-USA.

“The coaching staff are very proud of this team after finishing the season undefeated on the road with one of the more difficult schedules in the Country, said ODU head coach Alan Dawson. “We hope that this will prepare us well for the CUSA Tournament in Charlotte this week.”

The victory gives the Monarchs 21 points to take second place one point behind New Mexico who beat Kentucky today, 2-0. The Monarchs also finish with a 5-0-1 road record.

In the first half, at the 15:28 mark senior forward Tim Hopkinson scored off an indirect kick from Ivan Militar. It was Hopkinson’s 10^th goal of the season and the third straight year he has scored 10 goals.

Later in the half with 3:33 left ODU freshman Cole Stringer headed in a corner kick by Militar to give the Monarchs a 2-0 lead into halftime.

South Carolina, who handed No. 23 New Mexico its only conference loss added a goal off a free kick with 10 minutes left by Jeffrey Torda from an assist by Asa Kryst.

Militar’s two assists give him six for the season to lead the team, while Hopkinson now has 25 total points on 10 goals and four assists. ODU outshot, South Carolina, 14-10, while Monarch senior goalkeeper Sean Stowe (Midlothian, VA.) finished with six saves.

The Conference USA Championships begin Nov. 13 in Charlotte, NC.

ODU 2-0=2

USC 0-1=1

15:28 ODU Tim Hopkinson from Ivan Militar.

42:27 ODU Cole Stringer from Ivan Militar.

80:22 USC Jeffrey Torda from Asa Kryst

Shots: ODU (1 4) , USC (10 )

SOG: ODU (8 ) USC ( 7 )

Corners: ODU (7), USC (4 )

Saves: ODU-Stowe ( 6 ), USC- Marco Velez (5), TM (1)