NORFOLK, VA—The 2013 ODU Soccer Monarchs host last year’s NCAA National runner-up Georgetown Sunday evening at 7 p.m. in an exhibition match at the ODU Soccer Complex. Admission is free.
The Monarchs return seven starters from last year’s 11-3-3 squad that ranked as high as fourth nationally and advanced to the schools third straight NCAA tournament and ninth overall in the last 11 years under head coach Alan Dawson. Key returnees include: Gideon Asante (Sr, MF, 3-time All-Conference); Tim Hopkinson (Sr, F, All-Region & 2-time All-Conference); Jason Gaylord (Sr, D); Ryan Condotta (So, MF, 2012 All-Rookie Team); Ryan Oakes (Sr, D); Skylar Hagan (Jr, MF); and Ivan Militar (Jr, F). The Monarchs will also have nine new faces.
ODU was picked to finish fourth by the C-USA coaches and senior forward Tim Hopkinson was selected to the pre-season All-C-USA team.
Georgetown is selected first in the BIG EAST preseason poll and will be led by senior Steve Neumann, the BIG EAST preseason Player of the Year and sophomore Brandon Allen, 2012 Soccer America Freshman of the Year.
Sunday’s match is the first of three exhibitions for ODU. The Monarchs will host Coastal Carolina,(preseason ranked 13th) on Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. then travel to Duke on Aug. 23. The Monarchs regular season opener is Aug. 30 in VCU’s Tournament against High Point. ODU’s regular season home opener is against William and Mary on Sept. 7.
ODU received honorable mention votes in the NSCAA coaches top 25 and will have six regular season opponents on its schedule in the preseason poll, including 2012 national semifinalists Creighton, and Maryland. ODU will play sixth ranked Creighton in the Stihl Soccer Classic on Sept. 13 and travel to second ranked Maryland on Sept. 24.
In C-USA battles, the Monarchs will also host 11th ranked New Mexico on Nov. 2 and travel to 14th ranked Tulsa on Sept. 28, 21st ranked Charlotte on Oct. 9 along with a non-conference match-up against 24th ranked VCU on Sept. 1.