NORFOLK, Va. – Playing at home for the first time since the season opener, the Old Dominion men's soccer team got a goal from William Arnesen with just under nine minutes left to level the match for a 1-1 draw against VCU on Tuesday night.
"Very rough start in first half. I told them after the game that I felt we took a few steps forward after the weekend, but took a few steps back tonight," said Associate Head Coach Tennant McVea. "We knew it was going to be tough coming off Saturday and playing Tuesday, but we didn't have energy and VCU wanted it more in the first half. It was a good finish to the game in the last 15 minutes we played well, but it doesn't make up for first 75 minutes."
VCU (0-3-4) controlled the action in the first 45 minutes holding a 5-1 advantage in shots and 4-0 in corner kick advantage, but neither team could find the back of the net. The shot advantage flipped in favor of Old Dominion (2-0-5) in the second half outshooting VCU 10-2 as the Monarchs came out aggressive and forced action early and often.
At 60:39 of the second half, the Rams cracked through and got on the board as Camilo Comi broke down the left side and served in a connector to Jonathan Kanagwa who blasted it in for the early 1-0 advantage.
Old Dominion got the equalizer after Jonas Schmalbach stole the ball and pushed it ahead to Arnesen down the left side. He then pushed it through the opposite corner of the net for the eventual equalizer at 80:52.
"Jonas has done fantastically, in the second half his work rate was through the roof. He snuck the ball off the VCU defender and played a great pass to William. A good goal comes from hard work defensively and we are going to have to do that against a good Kentucky squad Sunday night," McVea added.
On the night, ODU ended with a 11-7 advantage in shots while VCU held a 7-2 margin in corner kicks.
The Monarchs continue the homestand on Sunday night when they host Kentucky at 6 p.m.
Late Tally Lifts Men's Soccer To 1-1 Draw With VCU
