Nov. 19, 2005
NORFOLK, VA-- The 9th-ranked Old Dominion Soccer Monarchs will make their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament 2nd-round appearance on Tuesday night as they host the visiting 23rd-nationally Wake Forest Demon Deacons at 7:00 p.m. Old Dominion earned a #10 seed, the highest in program history, after earning a 15-3-2 overall record this season. Wake Forest, who had previously earned the top seed in the tournament two out of the past three years, enter this tilt with a 12-7-2 record this season.
Wake Forest advanced on the strength of a 2-0 shutout victory over 17th ranked South Carolina in Winston Salem on Friday night. Junior Ryan Solle scored his first career goal and added his school record 13th assist during the match. Junior Wells Thompson scored the insurance goal for the Demon Deacons in the 89th minute of action. Senior Justin Moose (5 goals, 9 assists) is a Hermann Trophy finalist, given to the nation's top collegiate soccer player.
Old Dominion owns a 2-8-2 all-time record against Wake Forest, and have lost both NCAA tournament matches against the Deacons (1989 and 2002). Both matches took place in Winston Salem. ODU was victorious the last time they faced Wake Forest, taking a 2-0 shutout win during the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel in 2003. Senior forward and CAA Player of the Year Brian Cvilikas (Highlands Ranch, CO) scored the game-winner in that matchup.
ODU is aiming to advance to the 3rd round of the tournament for the first time in school history. Last season, ODU was eliminated in the second round by ACC power Duke 2-1 in overtime. The Monarchs will enter this contest sporting the CAA's Player of the Year-Cvilikas, Rookie of the Year-Trevor Banks (Madison, WI), and Coach of the Year-Alan Dawson. In addition, senior Trevor McEachron (Woodbridge, VA), junior forward Edson Elcock (Brooklyn, NY), and senior goalie John Connelly (Rockville, MD) are conference first-teamers.
Should Old Dominion advance, they will face the winner of #7 seed California/Santa Clara. ODU/California would take place in Berkeley, while ODU/Santa Clara would be hosted by the Monarchs next weekend.
Please follow http://www.ncaasports.com/soccer/mens/brackets/viewable/straight64_dyn/2005/s64dyn_DI for updated scores and tourney brackets.