NORFOLK, VA—The ODU Soccer Monarchs (11-5-1) scored three early first half goals to defeat Drexel, 5-1 in a NCAA first round match at the ODU Soccer Complex Thursday night. ODU will advance to Sunday’s second round match against sixth seeded and last year’s NCAA runner-up Georgetown at 1:00 p.m.
Tim Hopkinson (Nottingham, England) scored two goals, Jesse Miralrio (Arlington, TX.) had a goal and two assists and Ivan Militar (Szeged, Hungary) added three assists on the evening.
“Very pleased to start the game so fast and get an early goal which kind of settle us down a bit, gave us the opportunity to have a little more composure with the lead and obviously getting two more in that first 15 minute spell really set the tone for the game. We were ready to play and caught them off guard a bit. Very, very pleased with our performance.” – ODU head coach Alan Dawson who has taken ODU to the NCAA’s four straight years and 10 of the last 12.
The Monarchs struck quick with a little more than three minutes into the match on a goal by senior Tim Hopkinson with an assist from freshman Jesse Miralrio. Hopkinson, Conference USA’s Offensive Player of the Year added another 12 minutes later on an assist from Ivan Militar. ODU made it 3-0 a minute later when freshman Cole Stringer (Keller, TX.) scored off a break and an assist from Miralrio.
In the second half Miralrio scored from about 30 yards out after getting a pass from Militar to give the Monarchs a 4-0 lead. Drexel got on the board at the 68:12 mark when Jared Girard scored off a rebound from Guido Pena.
ODU finished the scoring with less than a minute left on a goal by junior Sydney Rivera (Hampton, NJ.) on a Militar assist.
Hopkinson’s two goals give him 12 on the season and 28 total points, while Militar now has a team best nine assists. Miralrio upped his point total to 13 which is third on the team and has four goals and five assists.
Drexel had the edge on shots ,13-10 overall and 8-7 in shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Sean Stowe (Midlothian, VA. ) tied his career high with seven saves on the night.
ODU and Georgetown played each other in an exhibition match in August with the Monarchs winning, 1-0.
DU 0-1=1
ODU 3-2=5
3:23 ODU Tim Hopkinson from Jesse Miralrio
15:34 ODU Tim Hopkinson from Ivan Militar
16:29 ODU Cole Stringer from Jesse Miralrio
46:42 ODU Jesse Miralrio from Ivan Militar
68:12 DU Jared Girard from Guido Pena
89:13 ODU Sydney Rivera from Ivan Militar.
Shots: ODU(10), DU (13)
SOG : ODU (7),DU (8)
Corners: ODU (6), DU (6)
Saves: ODU- Stowe (7), DU – Afflerbach(2)