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NORFOLK, VA--Sophomore Tim Hopkinson (Nottingham, England) assisted on three goals as the 11th ranked Monarchs of Old Dominion University (11-2/7-1) defeated Hofstra, 4-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association match at ODU Saturday night. Alex Vaughan and Yannick Smith (Hillsborough, NJ.) each had a goal and an assist as the Monarchs won their seventh straight.
"A very very good performance, overall tonight. I thought the first half was exceptional, even though we only had a one goal lead.The second half we did what we had to do. We got the second goal, absorbed their pressure, and caught them on the break. I think itsconfidence and chemistry. This group works and plays hard for each other like blood brothers."- ODU head Coach Alan Dawson.
ODU got on the board with a little more than 11 minutes left in the first half as Yannick Smith, the nation's fourth leading scorer got a ball through ball from Hopkinson, the CAA co-player of the Week for a 1-0 halftime lead. Smith nowhas 32 total points on 15 goals and two assists.
Three minutes into the second half, Junior forward Chris Harmon (Downingtown, PA.) scored on a give-and-go from Hopkinson and Alex Vaughan (Virginia Beach, Va.). Vaughan then scored ODu's third goal on an assist from Smith.
Hofstra got on the board with less than seven minutes on the clock when Heidar Emilsson fired a shot from about 25 yards out.
ODU came right back a minute later as Gideon Asante (Sunyani, Ghana) scored on a break a way pass from Hopkinson. Hopkinson now has eight goals with seven assists for 23 total points, while Asante has six goals with nine assists for 21 total points. ODU junior goalkeeper Victor Francoz (Fleurieu Sur Saone, France) had fivesaves on the night.
ODU now leads the CAA (JMU plays Georgia State Sunday) by three points, travels to James Madison on Wednesday night for a 7 pm. Contest.
HU 0-1=1ODU 1-3=4
34:26 ODU Yannick Smith from Tim Hopkinson48:10 ODU Chris Harmon from Tim Hopkinson and Alex Vaughan71:11 ODU Alex Vaughan from Yannick Smith82;23 HU Heidar Emilsson from Mostafa Haridi84:49 ODU Gideon Asante from Tim Hopkinson
Shots: ODU (19), HU(11)SOG: ODU (11), HU (6)Corners: ODU (4), HU(5)Saves: ODU-victo Francoz (5), HU- Roberto Pellegrini(6),TM(1)