Who: ODU (5-5-4, 1-3-2 SBC) vs #9 Marshall (8-1-4, 5-1 SBC)
When: Sunday, Oct. 26 – 6 p.m.
Where: Norfolk, Va. / ODU Soccer Complex
Last Meeting: Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 – MAR 3-2 ODU
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Click Here
NORFOLK, Va. - The Old Dominion men’s soccer team hosts #9 Marshall on Sunday night at the ODU Soccer Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The game will be streamed to ESPN+ and live stats will be available for any fans who wish to follow along with the action.
LAST TIME OUT:
ODU last saw the Thundering Herd in the first round of last year's Sun Belt Conference Championship Tournament. Although the Monarchs showed a valiant effort, the then #8 team in the country found a way to get a 3-2 win at home. ODU’s Noah Madrigal found the opening goal in the 35th minute thanks to an assist by the freshman defender Marcelo Randolf. Marshall would go on to score three goals straight without a response from ODU, capped off by an 87th minute goal from Rai Pinto. The Monarchs woke up after the third goal and were able to answer back a minute later in the 88th from Evan Watt. Watt would have a chance to equalize in the 89th but wasn't able to threaten Marshall's goalkeeper as the higher seed progressed to the next round.
ABOUT ODU:
The Monarchs are coming off a 1-0 loss in enemy territory against #10 West Virginia on Wednesday night and welcomes a second ranked opponent on Sunday. Old Dominion currently sits in eighth place in the Sun Belt Conference. They have three games remaining and a two-point edge over JMU in ninth place with a midweek matchup lined up with the Dukes on the horizon.
Junior forward Lewis Rourke continues to be a major offensive catalyst, ranking tied for seventh in the Sun Belt in total points with 15. He has scored a team high six goals and has provided four assists. Graduate student forward Alex Kryazhev ranks fourth in the Sun Belt with six assists and averages .5 assists per game. Senior forward Michael Eberle has also been instrumental in finding the open man. He sits tied for sixth in the conference with five assists.
On the defensive end, senior goalkeeper Michael Statham has been a steady presence between the posts. Statham ranks second in the Sun Belt with 46 total saves, including eight against the Mountaineers last time out. Statham has started 13 of the team's 14 games this season picking up four clean sheets.
ABOUT MARSHALL:
The Thundering Herd rides into Norfolk on a five-game win streak and most recently dispatched South Carolina, 4-0. Marshall are in second place in the SBC heading into Sunday’s game and is coached by Chris Grassie.
Marshall ranks tied for first in the conference in total goals (31) and is fourth in total assists (22). They have the league’s second lowest goals-against average, conceding only 0.87 goals per game. Junior defender Rai Pinto leads the Thundering Herd in goals with four. Junior forward Joao Roberto, sophomore forward David de la Vibora, junior forward Larry Noel, and freshman Gabriel Stevanato all have 3 goals.
Marshall has split time between two goalkeepers this season. Redshirt junior Eddie Demarco and redshirt sophomore Dan Rose both played in seven matches this season. Demarco has a 5-1 record in net and Rose is 3-0. Demarco leads the two with three clean sheets.
UP NEXT:
The Monarchs head to Harrisonburg, Va. for a pivotal Sun Belt Conference matchup against James Madison on Friday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m.