Nov. 28, 2007
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- In a high-paced, physical game that took over 106 minutes of play, the ODU Monarch soccer team prevailed over the six-seeded Bears of Brown University (15-2-1). Sophomore Ambane Emmanuel (Yaounde, Cameroon) scored his second goal of the tournament for the game-winner with 3:17 remaining in double overtime. It was just the second loss of the season for the Bears, who were ranked fourth in the nation coming into the NCAA Tournament. The Monarchs (14-6-3), who are one of just nine teams to reach the NCAA second round in each of the last six seasons, advance to the Round of 16 with the win for the second consecutive season.
"It was a very difficult game; it was a real battle," said head coach Alan Dawson. "The Monarchs kept their compusure and in difficult circumstances found a way to win."
ODU jumped in front quickly, with a score from senior points leader A.J. Kulp scoring just over 11 minutes into the game. Kulp took a free kick from about 45 yards out and played a ball into the box that never got any higher than the defenders shoulders. The height of the ball led to the Brown keeper getting screened and the ball bounced into the right corner of the goal untouched.
The first half was fairly even from that point on, with Brown taking the advantage in shots. Their best opportunity came from about 30 yards as reserve T.J. Thompson shot a rocket just out of the reach of ODU keeper Evan Newton (Virginia Beach, Va.), but the shot was over the crossbar.
Coming out of the locker room, the Bears got organized quickly. Just over three minutes into the half, the Bears scored the equalizer. Kevin Davies shot a hard shot from inside the box that Newton made an fantastic diving save to his left. The Bears would get a corner kick off the save, setting up the goal. Davies would again collect the loose ball and this time lofted the ball over Newton's outstretched arm to the far post to tie the game.
The two teams played hard through the rest of regulation, forcing both keepers to make three saves in the period, but no one was able to capitalize for a goal. Despite the aggressive attack from the Bears, the trademark of the 2007 Monarchs held as they got another strong effort from the back line. Freshman Adam Roscioli, junior Ollie Lutton and seniors Yomby William and CAA Defender of the Year David Horst consistently denied the Bear defense a clean look at the goal.
In the first overtime, Brown pushed offensively again, taking three shots, two on-goal. Newton continued to shine, with a season-high in saves with eight.
The second overtime felt much the same, as both teams battled through five foul calls and two stellar shots from both sides. Dylan Sheehan for the Bears had a diving header toward the net two and half minutes into the period, but it sailed high and A.J. Kulp had a shot on goal denied by Browns keeper Paul Grandstrand.
With just over three minutes remaining though, the aggressive style Brown was playing backfired. Nane Joseph (Yaounde, Cameroon) corraled a loose ball at midfield and then crushed a pass from midfield over the Bear defense. Ambane Emmanuel used his tremendous speed and ran through the ball, leaving him alone with the keeper. He took one dribble and fired it past the diving netminder for the game winner.
"This was a great victory for the program," said Dawson.
ODU advances to the Round of 16 for the second time in program history, with the first coming a year ago. In 2006, ODU hosted eventual national champions University of California Santa Barbara in the tournament, falling 1-2. ODU will play at Virginia Tech this weekend, either Saturday or Sunday.
ODU 1-0-0-1=2BROWN 0-1-0-0=1
11:07 ODU Kulp, A.J. (5) unassisted48:05 BROWN Davies, Kevin unassisted106:32 ODU Emmanuel, Ambane (5) from Joseph, Nane
Shots: ODU (10), BROWN (18)Corners: ODU (2), BROWN (13)Fouls: ODU (13), BROWN (18)Saves: ODU: Newton (8) BROWN: Grandstrand (4)