NORFOLK, VA—The ODU Soccer Monarchs (5-3-1/2-1) return home to host the 10th ranked Blazers of UAB (8-1-1/2-0-1) Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the ODU Soccer Complex in a Conference USA match-up.
This contest will feature two of the top teams and the top two scorers in C-USA. The first 300 fans in attendance will get a free hot dog and drink. This will be ODU’s fourth nationally ranked opponent and third in the Coaches/NSCAA top 10.
SERIES: This is the first meeting between the two schools since 1991, when both schools were in the Sun Belt Conference. ODU leads the series 5-0.
UAB is led in scoring by sophomore forward Freddy Ruiz who has a C-USA leading eight goals, along with one assist for 17 points. Junior forward Diego Navarrete is tied with Ruiz with 17 points on six goals and five assists. Navarrete had four assists in a game against Florida Atlantic. Patrick Huang has dished out five assists, while senior goalkeeper Raphael Ville has a 0.70 goals against average and four shutouts. The Blazers lead the league and rank second nationally in scoring with a 2.7 goals per match average.
UAB head coach Mike Getman is in his 22nd season with the Blazers and has led them to seven NCAA Tournament Appearances.
The Blazers have already beaten nationally ranked and defending national champion Indiana as well as VCU. UAB tied Charlotte, 0-0 and beat Kentucky, 2-1.
The Monarchs defeated Charlotte, 3-2 in overtime Wednesday night on the road on goals from Gideon Asante, Ryan Condotta and the game winner by senior Tim Hopkinson. Hopkinson is second in the league with seven total goals(15th nationally) , but leads C-USA in points per game at 1.78 and is tied for the lead with three game winning goals. He also has two assists and 16 total points. Hopkinson ranks eighth on ODU’s All-time goal scoring list with 28 and fifth all-time in points with 73, tied with Jae Cho (’82). Senior goalkeeper Sean Stowe ranks third in C-USA with 3.5 saves per game
As a team, the second place Monarchs have scored 13 of their 18 goals in the second half. In beating Charlotte, 3-2 in overtime, the Monarchs are now 1-2-1 in extra periods, beating Charlotte, losing to Kentucky, nationally ranked Creighton, and tying nationally ranked Maryland.
C-USA STANDINGS
UAB 2-0-1 8-1-1
New Mexico 2-0-1 6-3-2
ODU 2-1 5-3-1
Florida Atlantic 1-1-1 4-7
FIU 1-1 5-2
South Carolina 1-1 3-3
Kentucky 1-1 3-3
Tulsa 1-2 3-4
Charlotte 0-2-2 3-5
Marshall 0-2-1 1-7