ODU Defeats W&M, 3-0 For Share Of First In CAA

October 12, 2011

WILLIAMSBURG, VA-- The 17th ranked Monarchs of Old Dominion (8-2/4-1 CAA) defeated the Tribe of William and Mary (7-5/4-2 CAA), 3-0 Wednesday evening at Albert-Daley Field. The Monarchs got goals from Tim Hopkinson, Alex Vaughan and Yannick Smith. ODU is now tied with both W&M and James Madison with 12 points each as both of those teams lost tonight. The Monarchs are 4-1 in the CAA as is JMU, W&M is 4-2.

"We looked like a team that knew how to win a big game on the road. That has been an evolution and I am really proud of the boys.They put in a lot of hard work, got a big win against a eally good team."- ODU Head Coach Alan Dawson.

ODU took the early lead as Tim Hopkinson dribbled to the left of the box and shot past the keeper from 20 yards out in the first half.

The Monarchs second goal came early in the second half as Alex Vaughan (Virginia Beach, VA.) scored on an assist from Gideon Asante. ODU's third goal came with 30 minutes left when CAA Player of the Week Yannick Smith scored on another assist from Asante. Smith leads the CAA with 12 goals this year. Asante now has six assists. Victor Francoz picked up his fifth shutout of the season, with a 0.92 goals against average.

This was the first match-up in the Optima Health Challenge Trophy for bragging rights between the two schools. The trophy will be presented annually to the school which accumulates the most points in head-to-head competitions in all sports. In all, there will be 14 meetings with each event being worth 10 points. The winner will be the first school to 80 points. ODU soccer picks up the first 10 points of the battle.

The Monarchs return to action on Saturday when they travel to Towson for a 1 p.m. contest