Aug. 3, 2011
NORFOLK, VA--The ODU Soccer Monarchs who reached the NCAA second round last seasonare ranked 26th in COLLEGE SOCCER NEWS pre-season poll released today.
The Monarchs will be led by All-CAA returnees Jordan LeBlanc , a Jr. midfielder, sophomore forward Gideon Asante, along with senior defender Tommy Webb, Junior midfielder Chris Harmon, sophomore defender Alex De John and junior forward Yannick Smith.
Under the direction of head coach Alan Dawson who is beginning his 15th season, the Monarchs have reached the second round of the NCAA College Cup seven times in the last nine years. Last season, ODU defeated second ranked North Carolina in the regular season and 2009 National Champion VirginiaIn the NCAA College Cup first round.
The Monarchs open the 2011 season at home with an exhibition match against Virginia Tech on Tuesday, Aug. 16th at the ODU Soccer Complex.
ODU will host the Stihl Soccer Classic, Sept. 9 and 11 which will include Monmouth,William and Mary and East Tennessee State. The Monarchs regular season home openeris Aug. 28 against Navy. On the road, ODU will travel to North Carolina on Sept. 27th and play in West Virginia's Tournament, Sept. 2 and 4.
CAA home matches include Delaware, VCU, UNC Wilmington, Georgia State, Hofstra and Drexel.
COLLEGE SOCCER NEWS PRE-SEASON TOP 301. Louisville2. UCLA3. North Carolina4. Akron5. SMU6. Creighton7. Connecticut8. Maryland9. UC Santa Barbara10. Brown11. Notre Dame12. Virginia13. Boston College14. California15. Indiana16. Duke17. Ohio State18, Michigan State19. Loyola Marymount University20. Penn State21. Michigan22. West Virginia23. Charlotte24. Florida Gulf Coast University25. Wake Forest26. Old Dominion27. Monmouth28. University of Central Florida29. Denver30. Furman
Others Receiving Votes: South Carolina, Penn, Georgetown, Providence, Santa Clara, William and Mary, Butler, Princeton, Dartmouth, UMBC, College of Charleston, High Point