Aug. 9, 2012
Monarch Media's Ted Alexander Interviews Head Coach Alan Dawson
NORFOLK, Va. - The 23rd ranked Soccer Monarchs begin practice today as they get ready for the 2012 season. Check out the video below as head coach Alan Dawson talks about the upcoming year. Dawson has 300 career collegiate wins and begins his 16th season at the helm.
The ODU men's soccer squad's 2012 schedule will feature games against three national seeds from last year's NCAA College Cup which include national semifinalist Creighton, fifth seeded Maryland and 14th seed JMU. ODU will also host George Mason on Friday night, Sept. 28th on the Fox Soccer Channel, in the national game of the week.
In all, the Monarchs play five teams from last year's NCAA Tournament. ODU head coach Alan Dawson's Monarchs have reached the NCAA College Cup eight of the last 10 years, including last year, after a 12-6-2 mark. ODU finished second in the CAA and reached the league championship match. Dawson is ODU's winningest coach in school history and reached the 300 career win plateau last season.
The Monarchs open the regular season on Aug. 25th at home against the Naval Academy. After a road game at Central Florida, who reached the NCAA second round, ODU returns home for the 37th Stihl Soccer Classic which will include VCU, Winthrop, and Seton Hall.
ODU will play Seton Hall in the Classic opener, following the VCU-Winthrop matchup on Sept. 7th, and then play Winthrop on Sunday, Sept. 9th after the VCU-Seton Hall contest.
The following weekend, the Monarchs travel to Omaha, NE., to play in Creighton's Tournament Sept. 14 and 16 which will include a game against the Blue Jays who were a national number two seed last year and reached the NCAA semifinals before losing to Charlotte.
The Monarchs return home to host Maryland, last year's number five national seed on Sept. 18th. The Terps ranked third nationally in scoring at 2.29 goals per match.
ODU begins CAA play on Sept. 22 at Drexel before returning home for the nationally televised Fox Soccer TV match against George Mason on Sept. 28 which will be one of 13 men's collegiate soccer nationally televised games.
The Monarchs will play home matches against James Madison on Oct. 3, and William and Mary on Oct. 17. In a rematch of last year's CAA Championship, ODU travels to Delaware for an Oct. 7 matchup. The Monarchs will play two exhibition matches, starting on Aug. 14 at Georgetown and Aug. 18 at home against George Washington.
The Monarchs ranked second nationally in goal scoring, averaging 2.4 goals per game last season. ODU returns all but one starter led by All-American forward Yannick Smith along with All-CAA returnees Victor Francoz (GK), Tim Hopkinson (F), Gideon Asante (MF) as well as co-captains Chris Harmon (MF), Alex De John (D), and CAA All-Tournament selection Jason Gaylord(D). Smith, a semifinalist for the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy led the CAA in goals with 16 and scoring with 34 total points. The first team All-CAA forward ranked 12th nationally in scoring and ninth in goals. Smith was named third-team All-American by the NSCAA and College Soccer News. He was named first team All-South Atlantic region, and VASID Soccer Player of the Year.
Asante, a midfielder led the Monarchs with nine assists and added seven goals and 23 total points, and was a first Team All-CAA selection. He ranked 17th nationally in total assists and was named second team All-Region.
Victor Francoz, a rising senior goalkeeper registered six shutouts along with a 1.38 goals against average and a .754 save percentage. Francoz was a second team All-CAA selection, and ranked 24th nationally with 86 total saves. He was a first team All-region selection.
Hopkinson, a rising junior forward led ODU in game winning goals with four as he scored 10 on the season along with eight assists for 28 totals points. He ranked 24th nationally in goals scored and 20th nationally in assists. Hopkinson was a second team All-CAA and All-Region selection. Chris Harmon scored three goals and assisted on four others.