Men's Soccer Opens 2023 Season Hosting George Washington Thursday

MATCH #1
WHO: Old Dominion (6-8-2 in 2022) vs. George Washington (8-9-2 in 2022)
WHERE: ODU Soccer Stadium - Norfolk
WHEN: 7 p.m. Aug. 24
SERIES RECORD: ODU leads 4-1-0
LAST MEETING: Sept. 11, 1998 – ODU 2-0
STREAM: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: here
 
NORFOLK, Va. – The 2023 Old Dominion men's soccer season kicks off on Thursday night as the Monarchs host the Revolutionaries of George Washington at 7 p.m. inside the ODU Soccer Stadium on Big Blue Kids Club Night.
 
ODU (6-8-2 in 2022) was preseason picked ninth in the Sun Belt, while George Washington (8-9-2 in 2022) was picked 11th in the A-10 conference.
 
This will be the first meeting between the schools in 25 years as they last faced off in Norfolk on Sept. 11, 1998 as the Monarchs recorded a 2-0 win. After dropping the first-ever meeting in 1978, ODU has won the last four to hold a 4-1 lead in the all-time series.
 
ABOUT ODU
ODU returns four of its top five scorers from last season with Jonas Schmalbach leading after a four goal and three assist season in 2022 for 11 points. Louis Beckett (2g/3a), Michael Eberle (3g/1a) and Jan Marpe (1g/2a) join that corps.
 
In the net, Michael Statham returns having started every match last season and recording five clean sheets with an 80% save percentage.
 
ABOUT GW
George Washington saw its season come to an end last year with a first-round loss to Loyola Chicago 1-0 in the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
 
Lucas Matuszewski, Roee Tenne and Carter Humm are among the top returners from the 2022 squad. Matuszewski returns after scoring twice last season while helping to lock down GW's backline for over 1200 minutes, Humm returns in the midfield off a career-high five points and Tenne is back after finishing second on the 2022 team with four assists.
 
NEXT UP
The Monarchs will now start a five-match road swing with a contest on Monday night at UMBC in a 7:30 p.m. kick.