Nov. 18, 2002
The Old Dominion men's soccer team earned an at-large bid into the 2002 NCAA Soccer Championships and will host the University of Richmond, from the Atlantic 10, this weekend.
The Monarchs head in the tournament with a 9-8-1 overall record with a 6-2-1 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) mark. ODU has faced nine teams who are ranked this year, or were ranked at one point , including the top seeded Wake Forest Demon Deacons. They won three of those meetings, gaining victories over CAA foes #19 VCU and #24 Hofstra, and a 3-2 overtime win at #12 American.
"It's just a lot of emotions. This shows how hard work pays off in the long run. We were so close (in 1999) and didn't make it in so we felt cheated. This feels like a whole new career," says ODU senior co-captain Anders Haugom.
The Monarchs last made the NCAA playoffs back in 1991 but lost 2-0 to Rutgers. They also played at Wake Forest in 1989 tournament but fell 2-1.
"I am excited for the program. We have been on bubble the last couple years and I feel we are deserving of this. We played a very tough schedule this season and it has paid off," said Head Coach Alan Dawson.
Richmond heads to Norfolk with a 10-7-3 overall and a 7-2-2 Atlantic 10 mark. The Monarchs and Spiders are not strangers as Richmond used to be a member of the CAA. ODU compiled a 17-5-1 lifetime record against them before they left for the A-10 two years ago.
The time and date of the contest has yet to determined. The winner will visit Wake Forest to face the Demon Deacons on November 27th.
The CAA had a total of three teams make the field of 48. VCU is seeded #8 and received a first round bye. They will host the winner of Furman (17-2-1) and Loyala (MD) (13-4-3) on November 27th. William and Mary (13-7-1) travels to Duke (11-7-1) this weekend to take on the Blue Devils.