Oct. 6, 2012
NORFOLK, VA--The nationally ranked ODU Soccer Monarchs (7-1-1/1-1-1) travels to Newark, DE to take on the Fightin' Blue Hens of the University of Delaware (3-7-1/1-1) in a rematch of last year's CAA Championship game Sunday at 4 p.m.
ODU ranks ninth by College Soccer News, 11th by the NSCAA/Coaches, 12 by Soccer America and 13th By Soccer Times. The Monarchs tied JMU 0-0 in its last outing at home on Wednesday.
ODU is averaging 2.8 goals per game which leads the CAA while junior Tim Hopkinson leads the CAA In goals with eight and scoring with 20 total points. Hopkinson and senior Chris Harmon each have four assists which ties them for second in the league, while Yannick Smith is eighth with three assists.
Both Tim Hopkinson and junior Gideon Asante have two winning goals each which rank them third an the CAA. Goalkeeper Victor Francoz has a 1.09 goals against average which ranks fifth in the CAA and has 33 saves.
Five Monarchs have scored two or more goals, while five have assisted on three or more goals.
The Blue Hens are led in scoring by freshman forward Joe Dipre with three goals, one assist for seven points and junior forward Roberto Gimenez with two goals, two assists for six total points. Sophomore goalkeeper Jay Lupas has a 1.87 goals against average with one shutout and leads the CAA with 45saves.
ODU leads the series, 12-4. Last year, the Monarchs defeated UD, 2-0 at ODU, but lost the Fightin' Blue Hens in the CAA finals, 2-1. The two teams have played two of the same opponents, with UD losing to Navy, 2-1 in overtime and Seton Hall, 2-1, while ODU beat Navy, 4-0 and Seton Hall 6-0.
ODu travels to UNCW next weekend.