NORFOLK, VA—Three Monarch each scored a goal tonight, but it was senior Sidney Rivera’s (Hampton, NJ.) “golden goal” off a penalty kick that was the game-winner with 6:53 left in the second extra period, giving ODU a 3-2 Conference-USA victory over FIU Friday night at the ODU Soccer Complex. The Monarchs (9-6-1/4-3-1) will host the 2014 C-USA Soccer Championships beginning Wednesday. The top seven teams in the league will be on hand.
“We didn’t do it the easy, but in the end we got what we deserved and that was win number nine for us as we get ready for the Conference Tournament here next week,” said ODU head coach Alan Dawson, the nation’s 13th winningest active coach. It’s good to see that we have got some guys stepping up on the offensive side and scoring some goals.”
FIU took an early lead in the first half on a goal by Roberto Alterio on an assist from Deshawon Nembhard. The Monarchs got the equalizer 13 minutes later when freshman Tyler Edwards (Allentown, PA.) fed junior Michael Nelson (Austin, TX.) from the right side, beating the FIU goalkeeper.
In the second half, graduate student Christian Schroeer (Petershagan, Germany) took a corner kick and bent it into the goal to give the Monarchs a 2-1 lead, but with four minutes left in regulation, FIU tied the match as Quentin Albrecht scored on an assist from Luca Giovine, sending the match into overtime.
In the second extra period, FIU committed a foul in the box and Rivera beat the keeper to the upper righthand corner of the net for the game-winner. The Monarchs have now scored three goals in each of their last two matches. ODU outshot the Panthers, 24-13 overall and 11-6 in shots on goal.
No. 5 Charlotte defeated No. 13 Kentucky tonight 2-1, giving the 49ers first place and Kentucky third. No. 15 New Mexico defeated South Carolina, 2-1. The official tournament pairings will be announced after Saturday’s UAB-FAU contest.
FIU 1-1-0-0=2
ODU 1-1-0-1=3
4:27 FIU Roberto Alterio from Deshawon Nembhard
17:54 ODU Michael Nelson from Tyler Edwards
63:27 ODU Christian Schroeer
86:01 FIU Quentin Albrecht from Luca Giovine
104:07 ODU Sidney Rivera on Penalty Kick
Shots: ODU (24), FIU (13)
SOG: ODU (11), FIU (6)
Corners: ODU (6:, FIU (2)
Saves: ODU- Alex Tiesenhausen (4), FIU- David MItchcell (8)