NORFOLK, VA—The ODU Soccer Monarchs (4-3) begin C-USA play Friday night in Lexington, KY against the Wildcats of Kentucky. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex. Kentucky (4-3-2) has allowed just four goals and ODU only five thus far this season.
The Monarchs enter the match fresh off their 2-1 victory over VCU last weekend. ODU’s defense anchored by goalkeeper Alex Tiesenhausen along with defenders Skylar Hagan, Nicholas Hutchinson, David Macsicza and Michael Nelson rank second in the league with three shutouts. Tiesenhausen leads the league in save percentage at .875 and total saves with 35. ODU has allowed only five goals in seven matches this season.
Offensively, Ryan Condotta leads the Monarchs in total points with five on two goals and an assist, while Josue Henriquez and Christian Schroeer have three points each on a goal and an assist. Six different Monarchs have scored at least one goal this season.
THE SERIES: Kentucky leads the series, 2-0. The Wildcats beat ODU in Norfolk last year, 2-1 in overtime, then knocked the Monarchs out of the C-USA Tournament, 1-0 in overtime.
ODU travels to Marshall for an Oct. 8 match in Huntington, WV., then return home on Oct. 11 to host Charlotte on Oct. 18.
ABOUT KENTUCKY: Like ODU, UK has played a strong non-conference schedule. They beat then No. 5 Notre Dame , 1-0 and tied No. 19 Furman, 0-0, while losing to No. 12 Indiana, 1-0 and No. 9 Louisville, 2-1. UK’s goalkeeper Irving Callum has the lowest goals against average in the league at 0.43 and is tied with ODU’s Tiesenhausen in save percentage at .875 which is the best in C-USA.
Justin Laird leads the Wildcats with five points on two goals and one assist, while Bryan Celis is second with three total points with one goal and an assist. Six different players have scored atleast one goal, while three players, Napo Matsoso, Charlie Reymann and Sam Miller have two assists each.
C-USA NOTES
In the latest national polls three teams from C-USA are in the Coaches NSCAA top 25, Charlotte (10),
New Mexico (15) and UAB (21). ODU, who ranks fourth in the Southeast region received votes. Kentucky is fifth in the region.
Old Dominion will host the top seven finishers in the regular season standings for 2014 C-USA Men’s Soccer Championship, Nov. 12-16 at the Old Dominion Soccer Complex in Norfolk, Virginia. Tickets for the tournament are: $20 for adult, and $ 10 for youth. Single game tickets are: $10 for adults, $5 for youth, and $3 for groups of 10 or more. Admission is free for all C-USA students with a valid school ID.
C-USA CURRENT STANDINGS
Charlotte 1-0 7-1
UAB 1-0 6-2-1
Marshall 1-0 2-3-2
ODU 0-0 4-3
Kentucky 0-0-1 4-3-2
Fla. Atlantic 0-0-1 0-5-2
New Mexico 0-1 5-2-1
South Carolina 0-1 5-4
FIU 0-1 3-4-1