Nov. 6, 2006
NORFOLK, VA - The No. 23 ranked Old Dominion men's soccer team will host its first round matchup against Winthrop on Saturday at 1:00 pm. ODU (13-5-1) will host Big South conference champion Winthrop (15-3-3). Should the Monarchs advance they will travel to play No. 19 North Carolina on Wednesday.
The Monarchs enter the NCAA Tournament having received one of 26 at-large bids into the NCAA Tournament. After shutting out UNC-Wilmington and winning 1-0 in the quarterfinal of the CAA Tournament, ODU lost in semi-final action against Hofstra, 4-2. Old Dominion has been in the national polls for the majority of the season and is most recently ranked No. 23.
The Eagles advance to the College Cup for just the second time in school history with the Big South automatic bid. Winthrop is led by Top Drawer 5th Team selection Saidi Isaac with 17 goals. ODU's Edson Elcock was also named to the 5th team.
Head Coach of the Monarchs Alan Dawson is the winningest coach in ODU soccer history and has earned four CAA Coach of the Year awards. This will be the fifth straight year ODU has made it to the NCAA Tournament. Coach of the Eagles, Rich Posipanko is in his 18th year at the helm for Winthrop. Under Posipanko is former Old Dominion player Daniel Ridenhour. Ridenhour was a four-year letterman under Alan Dawson at ODU.
"I've heard quite a bit about them," said Dawson. "Everything I hear about them is very good. I hear they are a very good attacking team." Dawson will rely heavily on a very good defense. CAA Defensive Player of the Year David Horst and Top Drawer 2nd Team defender Trevor Banks will anchor a defense that has posted eight shutouts this season.
Game time is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Saturday. If Dawson's team advances they will play at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 15 in Chapel Hill, NC.