Oct. 11, 2011
NORFOLK, VA-- The ODU Soccer Monarchs (7-2/3-1) hit the road for a Wednesday nightColonial Athletic Association match-up with the Tribe of William and Mary (7-4/4-1)at 7 p.m.
This will be the first match-up in the Optima Health Challenge Trophy for braggingrights between the two schools. The trophy will be presented annually to the school which accumulates the most points in head-tohead competitions in all sports. In all,there will be 14 meetings with each event being worth 10 points. The winner will be the first school to 80 points.
ODU currently ranks 17th nationally in the NSCAA, College Soccer News, 18th byTopDrawerSoccer, and 21 by Soccer America. The Tribe are 28th by TopDrawerSoccer.The Monarchs trail W&M and JMU by three points in the CAA standings.
ODU currently leads the CAA in goals scored with 25 in nine matches and are tied with VCU for second in the league with 20 assits.
ODU junior Yannick Smith, the CAA Player of the Week as well as National Player of the Week by TopDrawerSoccer and College Soccer News leads the CAA in total pointswith 23 nd goals scored with 11.
Sophomore Tim Hopkinson, freshman Ivan Militar and sophomore Gideon Asante are tied for fourth in the CAA with four assists each.
SERIES: The Tribe leads the series, 20-19-8. Last year, ODU was the only CAA teamto defeat William and Mary. ODU won, 1-0 in Norfolk.
W&M is tied with ODU for second fewest goals allowed with nine. Nicolas Abrigo leads the Tribe in scoring with 13 points on six goals and one assist which rankhim sixth in the CAA. Goalkeeper Colin Smolinsky has a 0.80 goals against averageand a .843 savers percentage ranking him in the leagues top three in those categories.
W&M's lone CAA loss was, 1-0 at Georgia State.
After Wednesday night, ODU travels to Towson for a Saturday afternoon contest.