May 9, 2007
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA -- The Virginia Beach Sportsplex will be home for five ODU Monarchs this summer as the soccer players will play on the Hampton Roads Piranhas soccer club. The Piranhas Premier Development team will boast freshman goalkeeper Evan Newton, CAA Defender of the Year David Horst, and sophomore midfielder Nane Joseph. Meanwhile, in the women's league sophomore keeper Colby Owen and former star forward Laura Beeman will play in the United Soccer League for the summer. The PDL team kicks off the 2007 season at home May 11 at 7:00 pm and the women's season begins Sunday, May 13 at 3:00 pm.
Joining the first ever PDL Piranhas are significant contributors for the Monarchs, Newton, Horst, and Joseph. Newton (Virginia Beach, VA) ranked second in the Colonial Athletic Association in shutouts with 8 during his rookie campaign and also ranked fourth in goals-against-average with 0.97 in 17 games. He was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team as the starting keeper of a defense that allowed only 18 goals in 18 games, recorded 8 shutouts, and led the team to the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
Another essential piece to that formidable defense was junior David Horst (Pine Grove, PA). Horst was named to the NSCAA All-South-Atlantic First Team and was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 for anchoring the Monarchs defense. His effort in the conference tournament earned him CAA All-Tournament honors and he was also Second Team All-CAA in 2005.
Nane Joseph (Yaounde, Cameroon) played in 21 of ODU's 22 games in 2006 and provided an exceptional physical presence on the field. He took 27 shots as he controlled the middle of the field throughout the season.
On the women's team, sophomore goalkeeper Colby Owen will return to the Piranhas for her second year. Owen (Virginia Beach, VA) appeared in eight games in 2006 for the W-League Piranhas, earning a 1.52 GAA, allowing10 goals. In 2006 for the Lady Monarchs, she appeared in 8 games, earning 4 wins and 2 shutouts while registering a 0.54 goals-against-average. As a freshman in 2005 she played in 18 games, starting 17, earning a 1.24 goals-against-average and four shutouts.
Former ODU standout Laura Beeman was also signed to the summer league team. Beeman (Chalfont, PA) returns to the Piranhas after playing 13 games for the team in 2006 scoring 2 goals. She was a four-year starter for Old Dominion University scoring 21 goals, 9 assists for 51 points during career. Her senior season she was named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week, All-CAA First Team and VaSID All-State First Team. Also in her career at ODU she was named CAA Player of the Week and All-CAA First Team in 2004 and she was named to the All-CAA Second Team in 2003.
The Piranhas home games will be played at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex this year with the first games scheduled for the weekend of May 11. This is the 13th year the Piranhas have been a part of the USL with this being the inaugural season for the PDL Piranhas. The W-League Piranhas were crowned champions of the USL in 2003.