NORFOLK, Va. – The 24th-ranked Old Dominion men’s soccer team opens the 2015 season this weekend, hosting No. 21 Coastal Carolina on Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. and then No. 25 Akron on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. Both matches will be played at the ODU Soccer Complex.
“The boys are excited to get out there and play a game that counts,” said head coach Alan Dawson in his weekly Coach’s Show. “I think the boys are ready, especially mentally, to get out there and play.”
The Monarchs are coming off of a 13-7-1 season in which they captured the program’s first-ever Conference USA title. In addition, ODU advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, before falling to 16th-seeded Georgetown.
ODU opens this season with Coastal Carolina, who is ranked 21st in the NSCAA preseason poll. The Chanticleers posted a 16-6-1 overall record a season ago and also advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
“Coastal Carolina is a very, very good team and have been that way for many years,” said Dawson. “They’re very well-coached and may be one of the best teams we play all year.”
The second match of the weekend is not any easier, as the Monarchs host 25th-ranked Akron. The Zips won the Mid-American Conference last year and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
“They’ve been arguably one of the top programs in the country for the past ten years or so,” Dawson said of Akron. “So, that will be a real challenge. Back-to-back games against top 25 teams, but what other way to start the season.”
Live stats and video will be available for both matches, and Sunday’s contest against Akron is featured as the “Game of the Week” and will include play-by-play from announcer Ted Alexander.
NEXT UP FOR ODU
Following this weekend’s matches, Old Dominion will make its first road trip of the season, traveling to Baltimore for a showdown with Loyola on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.
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!
Be sure to keep up with all the latest news regarding ODU Men’s Soccer on Facebook; as well as follow @ODUMensSoccer on Twitter and ODUSoccer on Instagram!