NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion men’s soccer team held a ring ceremony for its 2014 Conference USA tournament championship on Wednesday, Aug. 19 at the ODU Soccer Complex.
University President John R. Broderick and Athletic Director Dr. Camden Wood Selig were both in attendance for the ceremony that honored ODU’s first ever Conference USA men’s soccer title.
“We’re very fortunate to have an athletic director who is tremendously supportive of the program,” said head coach Alan Dawson. “We’re equally as fortunate to have a president of a major university come to our games on a regular basis and actually enjoy the sport. That’s unheard of across the United States. So we are very, very lucky as a program to have this sort of support from our administrators, particularly at the top level.”
Both President Broderick and Athletic Director Selig addressed the team and congratulated them on their accomplishments, both on and off the field.
“I know you’ve done well academically and I know you’ve done well on field,” said President Broderick to the team. “There are a lot of kids in this room who have impressed me and it has nothing to do with soccer. People like Ryan Condotta, Ivan Militar, Michael Nelson and Jesse Miralrio have been really good representatives of the program. They present themselves and they come up to people and talk. And I don’t want you to lose sight of that.”
Athletic Director Selig added about the program, “Our men’s soccer program is truly a model program. Academically, athletically, competitively. It’s a program that all of our programs can aspire to be.”
Following a fourth-place finish in the 2014 regular season, the Monarchs reeled off three consecutive victories to take home the conference tournament title. The Monarchs defeated New Mexico, 2-1, in the opening round, before knocking off top-seeded and No. 4 Charlotte, 2-1, in the semifinals. In the championship game, ODU defeated South Carolina, 2-1.
In addition to the conference title, the Monarchs compiled a 13-7-1 overall record in 2014 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The team travels to Navy on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. for its final exhibition match, before hosting the season opener against No. 21 Coastal Carolina on Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at the ODU Soccer Complex.
VOUCHER BOOKS
Take advantage of the great offer to attend ODU soccer games through the ODU Soccer Voucher Book available online at www.ynottix.com or at the ticket gate for all home games. With the voucher book receive 20 ticket vouchers redeemable at any home men’s or women’s soccer games for the cost of just $25. With every purchase you also receive an official ODU Soccer scarf!
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