NORFOLK, Va. – ODU women’s soccer head coach Angie Hind announced the schedule for the upcoming 2018 season on Thursday afternoon. Please see attached document for a look at the complete Soccer Monarchs schedule.
The schedule features 18 regular season matches plus an exhibition, 10 league games, eight non-conference contests, which is highlighted by a trip to Duke, a 2017 national semifinalist. Old Dominion will also serve as host for the 2018 Conference USA Tournament from Oct. 31-Nov. 4.
“This is an exciting schedule we have lined up for what we feel is an exciting year,” said Hind. “We are laying a brand new grass field this summer and of course host the C-USA Tournament so we have tried to create a schedule that will help test us on the road and also allow us to play a few more home games in preparation for the challenge of the C-USA. We have added a few different teams this year so that we get the opportunity to test ourselves against different playing styles. In conference play, we have a new schedule, which sees us playing against a few different opponents and opening at home against last years’ champions, North Texas, will give us an early test. I am pleased we have managed to get more home games this fall and hopefully we can have an even stronger year in the conference than last and have the opportunity to compete for the championship on our own field.”
ODU will square-off against six teams that finished last season in the top 100 of the RPI (No. 2 Duke, No. 69 North Texas, No. 71 LA Tech, No. 90 Charlotte, No. 91 VCU and No. 99 UAB) and eight teams that finished in the top 150 of the RPI (No. 135 FAU and No. 146 George Mason).
Including the exhibition against Longwood, Old Dominion will take on four in state schools (George Mason, VCU and Richmond). Both Duke and North Texas competed in last year’s NCAA Tournament. The Monarchs will host a total of 10 home regular season matches plus the C-USA Tournament.
“Last year was our best year to date in the C-USA, losing only two games,” concluded Hind. “With the squad we return, including a few key players back from injury and the addition of our freshman class, we are excited about the potential we have for the 2018 season.”
East Carolina, Towson, UTSA, Richmond and Mount St. Mary’s all made coaching changes after last season.