Men's Soccer Visits Georgia State To Start Sun Belt Conference Play

MATCH #6
WHO: ODU (2-0-3) at Georgia State (2-2-2)
WHERE: GSU Soccer Complex – Atlanta, Ga.
WHEN: 7 p.m. – Saturday
SERIES RECORD: ODU leads 9-3
LAST MATCHUP: Nov. 6, 2022 – Georgia State 3, ODU 1
STREAM: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: here
 
NORFOLK, Va. – On the heels of a 1-0 win at William & Mary on Tuesday night, the Old Dominion men's soccer team heads into Sun Belt Conference action on Saturday as they visit Georgia State for a 7 p.m. kick.
 
ODU (2-0-3) got a goal with 10 minutes left in the first half from Pierce Gallaway off a corner kick feed from Nathan Lam for the early lead. Michael Statham made six saves, including several key stops in the second half as ODU kept the Tribe off the scoreboard.
 
Georgia State (2-2-2) comes in off a 1-0 loss Tuesday night at USC Upstate on a goal at the 16:40 mark of the first half. Josh Hangi made seven saves in the net for Georgia State in the tough loss.
 
The series is in favor of the Monarchs by a 9-3 count, with Georgia State winning twice in a span of six days last year. They defeated ODU 3-2 to close out the 2022 regular season in Norfolk and then 3-1 at Marshall in the opening round of the conference tournament.
 
ABOUT ODU
Karan Mandair and Jonas Schmalbach lead the team with two goals each for a team-best four points. Gallaway, William Arnesen, Michael Eberle, and Key White have each tallied one goal for ODU through five matches. Nathan Lam has a team best three assists, with Valdimar Daoi Saeversson and Nicholas Alves having one each.
 
Statham recorded his second straight clean sheet with the win over the Tribe Tuesday and has a save percentage of .800, while allowing one goal per game.
 
With the win on Tuesday, it marked the first time in 11 years that ODU opened the season unbeaten in its first five games.
 
ABOUT GEORGIA STATE
Ethan Sassine leads the Panthers in goals scored (3), points (6) and shots on goal (11). Oliver Hiynsson follows him in scoring with a goal and a team best two assists for four points, while Dylan Williams has one goal and one assists for three points.
 
In the net, Hangi has started all six games for Georgia State with a .821 save percentage and allowed five goals in six matches.
 
UP NEXT
For the first time since the season opener on August 24, the Monarchs will return to the home pitch of the ODU Soccer Stadium to face VCU in a 7 pm kick on September 19. That starts a four-match homestand for ODU.